Clarke edges closer to Ryder Cup with Dutch Open win
Sunday, 24 Aug 2008 19:21
Darren Clarke aiming for a Ryder Cup place
Darren Clarke has put himself in pole position to get a wildcard for the Ryder Cup after he claimed victory at the Dutch Open.
The Northern Ireland star headed into the final round as the leader and a superb round of 66 saw Clarke lift the trophy ahead of Paul McGinley at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club in Zandvoort.
Though Clarke won comfortably in the end he was chased for much of the round by playing partner Henrik Stenson. The Swede started in superb fashion by birdying the first three holes to get to within one shot of Clarke.
But Clarke showed his class to sink two birdies in the next two holes to stretch his lead. Stenson then blew any chance of winning the tournament as he suffered a bogey and double bogey and had to settle for a joint second place finish.
"It's nice to come somewhere knowing I had to play well and then actually do it - we try to get ourselves to play as well as we can every week but I had two weeks to come to try and impress Nick and show him I am playing okay and the first week is out of the way and I seem to have done that," said Clarke.
It was an extra special day for Clarke as he had his two young sons in attendance to witness a victory which comes two years after the sad passing of his wife. The 40-year-old admitted it was "pretty special" to have his sons to celebrate the win with.
Players like Clarke, Colin Montgomerie and Paul Casey now only have the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles this week to try and claim a Ryder Cup place.