DARREN CLARKE PROFILE
Born on the 14th August 1968 in Dungannon, Northern Ireland.
Brought up playing golf at Royal Portrush as youngster.
1990
As an amateur won both the Spanish Amateur Closed Championship and the Irish Amateur Closed Championship Turned professional and gained his European Tour card at the European Tour Qualifying School at his first attempt.
1992
Gained his first professional title at the Ulster Professional Championship.
1993
His first European Tour victory came at the Alfred Dunhill Open, beating Sir Nick Faldo and Vijay Singh by two shots. Finished eighth in the Order of Merit that year.
1997
Finished tied second in The Open Championship. Made his debut in The Ryder Cup in 1997 at Valderrama when Europe won by 14½ - 13½.
1998
Won the Volvo Masters to finish second in the Order of Merit.
1999
Shot 60 in the European Open to become the only player to record to rounds of 60 in European Tour history. He first achieved the feat at the Monte Carlo Open in 1992.
2000
Became the first European to win a World Golf Championship, when he beat Tiger Woods in the final of the WGC – Accenture Match Play, on his way to second in the Order of Merit.
2001
Won the European Open to became the first Irishman to win on Irish soil since John O’Leary at the 1982 Irish Open. Reached a career-high of eighth in the Official World Golf Ranking.
2003
Became only the second player after Tiger Woods to win multiple WGC titles when he won the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.
2006
Played a pivotal role in The Ryder Cup at The K Club amid emotional scenes just six weeks after losing his wife, Heather, to breast cancer. Carried through on a wave of support from his home fans as Europe recorded a record-equalling victory.
2008
Ended a five years without a win when he won the BMW Asian Open. He went onto win the KLM Open later in the season.
2011
Won the Iberdrola Open. Claimed The Open Championship to win his first Major title in his 54th Major appearance. Aged 42 years and 337 days became the oldest winner of The Open Championship since Roberto de Vicenzo in 1967.
PERSONAL PROFILE
FULL NAMEDarren Christopher Clarke
COUNTRYNorthern Ireland
BORN14.8.68; Dungannon, Northern Ireland
RESIDENCEPortrush, Northern Ireland
HEIGHT/WEIGHT6ft 2½in 15st (189cm 95kgs)
FAMILY Children: Tyrone (1998), Conor (2000)
INTERESTS Films, reading, cars, fishing, Liverpool FC
TURNED PRO1990 (plus 4)
QUALIFYING SCHOOL1990*
EUROPEAN TOUR CAREER RECORD
(After The 140th Open Championship)
EVENTS PLAYED460
IN MONEY367
TOP TEN FINISHES120
OFFICIAL CAREER EARNINGS€19,426,571
EUROPEAN TOUR INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE VICTORIES:Total 14
1993 Alfred Dunhill Open
1996 Linde German Masters
1998 Benson and Hedges International Open, Volvo Masters Andalucia
1999 The Compass Group English Open
2000 WGC – Accenture Match Play, The Compass Group English Open
2001 Smurfit European Open
2002 The Compass Group English Open
2003 WGC – NEC Invitational
2008 BMW Asian Open, The KLM Open
2011 Iberdrola Open, The 140th Open Championship
EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR VICTORIES:Total 1
2003 Benmore Developments Northern Ireland Masters
INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT VICTORIES:Total 4
2001 Dimension Data Pro-Am (RSA), Chunichi Crowns (JPN)
2004 Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters (JPN)
2005 Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters (JPN)
OTHER TOURNAMENT VICTORIES:Total 2
1992 Ulster Professional Championship
1994 Irish National PGA Championship
AMATEUR RECORD
1990 Spanish Amateur Open Championship, Irish Amateur Closed Championship
RYDER CUP HISTORY
APPEARANCES1997 (winners), 99, 02 (winners), 04 (winners), 06 (winners),
2010 (Vice Captain)
RYDER CUP RECORDOverall: Played: 20, Won: 10, Lost: 7, Halved: 3
Series Record
Singles: Played: 5, Won: 1, Lost: 2, Halved: 2
Foursomes: Played: 6, Won: 3, Lost: 3, Halved: 0
Fourballs: Played: 9, Won: 6, Lost: 2, Halved: 1
Total Points: 11½
RYDER CUP HIGHLIGHTS
*Lies joint second in the all-time list of most successful Ryder Cup partnerships alongside Lee Westwood with six points from their eight matches together.
*Had a 100% record in the 2006 Ryder Cup with three wins from his three matches.
RYDER CUP PLAYING RECORD
1997: Club de Golfe Valderrama: Europe 14½ USA 13½
Day 2 Fourballs: Clarke/Montgomerie beat Couples/Love III (1 hole)
Singles: Clarke lost to Mickelson (2 and 1)
1999: The Country Club: USA 14½ Europe 13½
Day 1 Foursomes: Clarke/Westwood lost to Sutton/Maggert (3 and 2)
Day 1 Fourballs: Clarke/Westwood beat Duval/Woods (1 hole)
Day 2: Foursomes: Clarke/Westwood beat Furyk/O’Meara (3 and 2)
Day 2 Fourballs: Clarke/Westwood lost to Mickelson/Lehman (2 and 1)
Singles: Clarke lost to Sutton (4 and 2)
2002: The Belfry: Europe 15½ USA 12½
Day 1 Fourballs: Clarke/Björn beat Woods/Azinger (1 hole)
Day 1 Foursomes: Clarke/Björn lost to Sutton/Verplank (2 and 1)
Day 2: Foursomes: Clarke/Björn lost to Woods/Love III (4 and 3)
Day 2 Fourballs: Clarke/McGinley (halved) with Hoch/Furyk
Singles: Clarke (halved) with Duval
2004: Oakland Hills CC: USA 9½ Europe 18½
Day 1 Fourballs: Clarke/Jiménez beat Love III/Campbell (5 and 4)
Day 1 Foursomes: Clarke/Westwood beat Mickelson/Woods (1 hole)
Day 2: Fourballs: Clarke/Poulter lost to Woods/Riley (4 and 3)
Day 2 Foursomes: Clarke/Westwood beat Haas/DiMarco (5 and 4)
Singles: Clarke (halved) with Love III
2006: The K Club: Europe 18½ USA 9½
Day 1 Fourballs: Clarke/Westwood beat Mickelson/DiMarco (1 hole)
Day 2 Fourballs: Clarke/Westwood beat Woods/Furyk (3 and 2)
Singles: Clarke beat Johnson (3 and 2)
TEAMS AND AWARDS
TEAMS (PRO)
Ryder Cup 1997 (winners), 99, 02 (winners), 04 (winners), 06 (winners),
2010 (Vice Captain)
Alfred Dunhill Cup 1994, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99
World Cup 1994, 95, 96
Vivendi Trophy 2000, 02 (winners)
Royal Trophy 2007 (winners)
TEAMS (AM)
St Andrews Trophy 1990 (winners)
Boys, Youths, Seniors 1985-90
AWARDS
1997 Tooting Bec Cup
1997 Braid Taylor Memorial
2000 Tooting Bec Cup
2000 Braid Taylor Memorial
2001 Braid Taylor Memorial
