Well, it wasn´t Rory McIlroy or Graeme McDowell this week at Royal St. George´s; it was the graying veteran of many a links battle, the “old bloke that likes to buy a round” from Portrush, the other Northern Irishman who captured golf´s most prized possession. Darren Clarke bested the field and, although he stumbled a bit over the last couple holes, came out on top of an American field that was nipping at his heels waiting for him to falter.

Phil Mickelson, battling the elements and his “demons of the linksland,” along with Dustin Johnson tied for second with a revitalized Anthony Kim, Chad Campbell, and the  young super-star Rickie Fowler sharing fifth place.  A determined Davis Love III rounded out the American effort to capture this year´s Open Championship.

Six of this year´s top ten finishers were Americans; only Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, Englishman Simon Dyson, crowd favorite Sergio Garcia, and front-runner Thomas Bjorn were numbered among the elite top-ten.

Tournament Golf  tests the mettle of each player that calls himself a golfer.  Each year, The Open Championship offers up the premier test of nature´s unpredictable elements and the game.  This year Darren Clarke rose to the challenge, showed his mettle over four days of intense competition and took hold of the Claret Jug.  Each year there is only one champion; but, to be inscribed on the Claret Jug is forever.  Congratulations Darren!

Text © 2011, The iQuest Group, LLC

allan@iquestgolf.com

www.iquestgolf.com/blog