Clarke Finally Wins Again

Filed in archive Golf News on April 27, 2008

Courtesy: AFP/Getty Images

Darren Clarke won the BMW Asian Open on Sunday. The man from Northern Ireland has won golf tournaments before, of course - many times - but this one will remain with him for a long time.

Clarke's wife, Heather, died two years ago after a struggle with breast cancer. She wasn't even 40.

Mere weeks after she had passed, Clarke, who was adamant he would play on the European Ryder Cup team, helped his team mates to victory with some absolutely stunning golf, given his terrible loss.

No one thought he would be able to even tee up the ball. But it was a sign of the man's strength and belief that Heather would have wanted him to compete in the Ryder Cup.



Fast forward through two years of spotty play and a dwindling world ranking and Clarke was standing on the 14th hole of the Shanghai Pudong Golf Club when he let his mind wander.

He thought of his late wife, his two kids and winning for the first time since her death.

And he nearly lost the tournament as he blew easy par putts down the stretch. Clarke kissed off a two shot lead with three holes to play, slipping back into a tie with Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen.

Derksen made a superb chip shot from behind the 18th green to within two feet of the cup for an easy par; Clarke faced a long 20 to 30 footer for birdie to win and avoid a playoff.

He knocked the putt into the middle of the hole. Do you think someone might have helped?