I don't play golf but watch the majors occasionally and the Open at Sandwich this weekend really got my attention. I live in the area and the weather on Thurs, Sat morning and Sunday aft was just as horrendous as it looked on tv. I wouldn't even go out in the garden in it, let alone play golf for 4hrs. I found it fascinating to watch the golfers battle both the course and the elements and make it look relatively easy. US vet Tom Clarke is a real character and the smile hardly ever left his face - he reminded me a bit of Sid James crossed with Dave Allen. Could be his last pro visit to the UK and his hole in one in teeming rain and heavy winds was the icing on the cake for him and his many supporters. It just goes to show that the best golfers don't only play their best golf on the manicured lawns and in the balmy weather conditions of the US circuit. They really had a battle on their hands on the links of Royal St Georges but none of them complained to the media - they just got their heads down and got on with the game. Anyway, well done Darren Clarke the Northern Irishman who has waited 20yrs for this win. When asked how the celebrations would go, he replied 'long, with plenty of the black stuff'. It's now lunchtime in the UK and I'll bet he and his family & friends still haven't surfaced!
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