Sitting with the Claret Jug to one side and a pint of Guinness on the other, Northern Ireland’s forgotten man Darren Clarke basked in the glory of a British Open triumph that will be celebrated by ordinary golfers the world over on Sunday.

While the four rounds of golf the 42-year-old produced to win his first major were beyond even the wildest dreams of the vast legions of Sunday morning hackers, most could relate to Clarke’s relaxed approach to life.     

    “I like to have a pint, I like to go the pub and have a pint, jump on Easy Jet, fly home, buy everybody a drink...I’m just a normal guy playing golf, having a bit of fun,” the robust Clarke, the oldest winner of the British Open since 1967 and one of the most popular, said.     

    “Last night was very relaxed; over at (agent) Chubby (Chandler’s) house again. Had very nice red wine and very nice food and was very relaxed. Got up this morning ready to go.”     

    Known for his love of expensive cigars and a few pints of Ireland’s most famous liquid export, Dungannon native Clarke said Sunday’s masterful three-stroke victory over Americans Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson might even interfere with a planned weight-loss programme.     

    “I’ll probably get bored with it in a week and give up,” Clarke said. “I think this could probably be a bad week for me to try and start. I’m at Chubby’s apartment, so I’m going eat and drink as much as I want tonight and he’s going to help me on it tomorrow morning. I’m a normal bloke, aren’t I, really?”     

    Clarke’s refreshing absence of airs and graces has made him a favourite with British golf fans down the years and he tugged on a nation’s heart strings in 2006 when he starred in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory over the United States shortly after his wife Heather died of breast cancer.     

    She was in his thoughts as he walked down the 18th with cheers ringing in his ears on Sunday.     

    “In terms of what’s going through my heart, there’s obviously somebody who is watching down from up above there, and I know she’d be very proud of me,” Clarke, who has since got engaged to former Miss Northern Ireland Alison Campbell, said.     

    “She’d probably be saying, I told you so.  But I think she’d be more proud of my two boys and them at home watching more than anything else. It’s been a long journey to get here.  As I say, I’m 42 and I’m not getting any younger.”     

ROUGH WEATHER     

    Indeed the former world top-tenner’s career had been in decline and he arrived at Sandwich firmly in the shadow of compatriots Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, winners of the last two US Opens.     

    A natural player in windy, links conditions, though, Clarke eclipsed both men with rounds of 68, 68, 69 and 70 in some of the roughest weather seen at a British Open for many years.     

    It was a masterful performance and after winning golf’s most historic major at the 20th time of asking, Clarke says he has the hunger to challenge for more.     

    “You know, bad times in golf are more frequent than the good times,” he said. “There’s been times I’ve been completely and utterly fed up with the game.     

    “But now, can I say that’s it, I’m going to retire now? I can’t. I’ve got to keep on playing. To be the Open champion is just incredible. I’ve got to go back now, reassess and set some more goals. To win another couple of these.     

    “I still feel as if I can compete with the best players in the world, and that’s what I want to do.”     

    For the locals back across the Irish Sea at Port Rush Golf Club, home of Clarke, McDowell and the precocious McIlroy, celebrations are becoming regular occasions — such is the success of Northern Ireland’s golfers in the past 14 months.     

    “They’re probably all having a drink in Portrush. If they’re not, I hope they are. Northern Ireland is a very small place and it’s all a very close-knit community and everyone is very pleased for our sporting guys that do well, and I’m pleased to join them.”     

    With that, Clarke headed off out to begin his own celebrations but only after sending several cases of Champagne down to the world’s media still describing an extraordinary day for an ordinary bloke from Northern Ireland.