The R&A could be in trouble for a Claret Jug next year at Royal Lytham. Between Clarke's Guinness, McIlroy's Jaeger bombs, McDowell's vino and Harrington's Mi Wadi it may look like a pound shop vase than a silver trophy come next July. Darren Clarke smiled his way to the Claret Jug last weekend, with that he had Irish eyes smiling again too. The Dungannon man made it three major wins for the North in the space of a year, and in no time, after Harrington’s treble, has made it six Irish wins in the last eighteen majors. At his 20th attempt at the Open, Clarke was majestic all week, never getting out of cruise control on his march to his first major. I was fortunate enough to back him, 125/1. I could have got 200’s but the truth was he was the last of my 5 selections; therefore I was more worried about the competitiveness of the prices with Sergio et al. Back on the 15th of May I watched Clarke master his rivals at the Iberdola Open in Mallorca. I suggested then that Clarke looked in lovely touch for a tilt at Royal St Georges at 100/1, so 125’s was more than enough reward for this coward who put him at the bottom of the list. Remember readers, ‘the bigger the price, the bigger the bet’.
The 42 year old proved the best player of links golf for the week. Johnson, Mickleson, Bjorn and Fowler came through with merit. Wet and windy conditions came as an easy excuse for many, McIlroy let himself down in the press conference afterwards, venting his frustration at why would he change his game for one week in the year and most disappointingly, ‘I’m not a fan of golf tournaments where the outcome is predicted so much by the weather’. This was sad. His childhood hero, now good friend a couple of hours later was to win the tournament. No matter what compliment the US Open champion gives the British champion now, it will be tarnished by that public dissing of the Open and in turn Clarke. It was regrettable I’m sure, but unnecessary, McIlroy sounded like a spoilt and immature child. Alternatively it was so refreshing to see Rickie Fowler, of similar youth and stature in the game, embrace the Open and whatever it threw at him. Machines don’t win Opens, players do. Players with guile, touch, feel, patience and class. Clarke had all the attributes in spades.
Clarke’s array of shots is best described by Iain Carter on the Beeb website. High or low, left or right, big or small, the Dazzler had it all. Most memorably his tee to green play on Saturday, his par putts early on Sunday, matching Mickleson's eagle on 7 and his unwavering performance coming in. The 6ft 2” father of two was even sporting enough to act as marshal on the final few holes, keep the crowd shushed in respect of Johnson’s shots. Not only had he his game and the crowd under control all week, but he had backers under control as well. I never got as nervous as I should have for such a decent priced win. Three times I rang up my own bookie and three times I didn’t lay off. Asking what price the field on each occasion (8/13, 4/5, 15/8) I thought it was poor value and I had plenty of faith in ‘the Prince’ stick it out. On the third call, I had to apologise to the bookie for wasting his time. As the Fosters advice bureau say, ‘No Drama’.
Clarke is a likeable character. He showed incredible integrity and sportsmanship in the Irish Open in 2006. I also remember being so emotional during the 2006 Ryder Cup. I felt so sorry for him after his wife Heather passing, left to bring up two young kids without their mother. The week was quite intrusive on his life. But it was comforting too. The Irish crowd at the K Club were able to show their love for him, his team mates and opponents showed their respect and the golf kept him busy. Boy did he play. The thing with this 1 time major champion is that he such a classy player, links or inland. When he’s in form he’s imperious. Beating Tiger in the World Matchplay, dishing out heavy defeats in various Ryder Cups to Americans, winning at 42 in Iberdrola and Sandwich by 3 shots at his ease and amassing 21 professional victories to date.
His peers adore him. The ruthless, reclusive Tiger to the relaxed, outgoing Mickleson. I think McIlroy will learn a lot from the latest Northern Ireland sensation; it will do him well to have the spotlight shifted for a couple of months. I hope Clarke makes more Ryder Cups and wins more European Tour Events, I doubt whether he’ll add to his Major record though. The man’s too in love with life for any sort of domination of the sport, leave that to Tiger or maybe Rory. For now, let him bask in glory of the being golfer of the year 2011. That and the small matter of living life to the full is all that should worry him. Good on you Darren, Love Ya Big Guy.
BBC Sports Personality 2011
At the time of writing Darren Clarke is as short as 1/2 for Spoty 2011. McIlroy who has been overthrown as favourite is now 7/4. The pair to lay on the exchanges are around 2/9 (Evs and 2/1). I think this is far too short. I have shown my admiration for Darren Clarke above, I would dearly love him to win it but he’s ridiculously short in the betting and I’ve had my fingers burned before. I remember in 2006 I lumped on Darren Clarke to win the illustrious award at around Evens down to 4/6. In a quiet sporting year I thought he was a certainty, the outpouring of affection shown to the man (or so it seemed) and his fantastic performances, especially in the Ryder Cup left me in little doubt people would vote for him. Wrong. Zara Phillips. Did he not win a big enough terrestrial event? Are the English as quick to claim Northern Ireland men as their own as us Irish are? Is Golf a sexy enough sport to round up the voters? I don’t know the definitive answer to all these questions. One thing that’s easy to understand though is that there are two golfers at the head of the betting, from the same region, with both nice personalities (Open comments aside Rory). They will split the vote surely.
Where does the value lie so? As I’ve posted before I have got to understand the Tour de France this Year and the brilliance of the ‘manxman’ Mark Cavendish. Barring unexpected failure he is about to win the Green Jersey (Best sprinter) for the first time in the Tour de France. On Sunday he is likely to win the final Stage into Paris, cementing his position at the top of the sprinters, winning his 5th stage on this Tour and the 20th of his career. He is 50/1. Cav is at the top of his game and if the wider public learn to understand his ability, his domination and his bubbly personality, he is a cracking bet. If I were pricing it up I’d put him in at 14s and if he wins the last stage on Sunday no more than 8/1. I am contradicting myself in terms of the British public being patriotic as he is from the Isle of Man, is that same or worse than Northern Ireland in terms of the public’s vote? I am willing to take a chance, a chance that the public will learn of Cavendish’s feats on the Tour and embrace him as their own.
It is a quiet sporting year for dangers apart from the golfers. The Rugby World Cup may provide a British star; it’s unlikely they’ll win though. Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis are fabulous talents but their accomplishments probably won’t be recognised until the Olympic year, next year. Haye has big toed his chances into the 1000/1 mark on betfair, Andy Murray bar a win in the US Open won’t win and AP McCoy although he should win it again, he won’t!! Scholes might make it a lifetime achievement award, if every United fan gets behind him in the same way they did Giggs, hopefully not.
Chris Hoy has won the award in 2008 so maybe a cyclist isn’t as crazy as it seems. Watch Cavendish win on Sunday and be convinced. Back him before then though, the 50’s will be long gone afterwards!
Post by Peter Kingston
No comments:
Post a Comment