Darren Clarke Back at Royal Portrush with high hopes for McIlroy – and yourself The open

TThe trio from 7 a.m. on Tuesday at Royal Portrush: Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy, Tom McKibbin. The galleries grew and grew. The event location for the Open this week was the location of a Starstrack McIlroy meeting Clarke on his 10th birthday in 1999. Clarkes Foundation played a key role in the early development of Mcilroy. McKibbin, when the 13-year-old played in the McIlroys Home Club in Holywood, was invited by him to play in the Pro-Ams of Irish Open in 2016. The connections are as uplifting as it is strong.

Clarkes description that McIlroy will win the Masters in April and complete its majors is therefore understandable. “I saw every shot,” says Clarke. “I couldn't remove my eyes out of my eye.

“I've known Rory for so long, I know his talent and his journey. To get over the line and do it, it kept it to the edge of our seats in real fashion.

Clarke has never claimed a loan for Mcilroy's success. That won't change. McKibbin and Shane Lowry were also involved in Clarkes Foundation. “I just tried to help,” he says. “I'm not looking for advertising for it, because that's why I don't do it. Half of my foundation is to support breast cancer research [his first wife, Heather, died of the disease in 2006]Half should help the development of the junior golf in Ireland, so everything is close to my heart. “

The 56-year-old not only remembers this meeting of 1999, but also the early sum of McIlroy. “I don't say that this is” I told you that. 'But at the time you could see how good he was, how much potential he had, “says Clarke.” Well, potential and the player he has become are two different things, but the talent that he also showed from this age was simply incredible. He was talented, completely gifted. “

All evidence indicates that Mcilroy has rediscovered his Mojo after a short post-Masters doldrum. Clarke knows the scenario; His life was changed significantly by lifting the Claret jug in 2011. “I am in no form or in shape to compare what I did with Rory, but if you are looking for so long and try to achieve your goals, it is sometimes difficult to achieve a reset afterwards,” says Clarke. “He has achieved what only five other people have in the history of our game, so it is no wonder that there is a reset for him. The reception he will get from Portrush will be incredible.”

Clarke's own situation is fascinating on two fronts. He was on track to make the cut in 2019 in front of a nightmare triple-bogey-seven in his 36th hole. Clarke returns to the Dunluce links, where the 9th hole was named after him because he knew that this could be his last. Motivation occurs partly from events from six years ago.

“I was angry,” he admits. “All years of experience and that in the last hole … I had played so nicely. It wasn't a steam that came out of my ears, it was lava. The 'new me' when I got older?

Clarke is undecided whether this open farewell means. He not only stays competitive on the Champions tour in the USA, but also on an amazing worker. “I had come a spell that I had missed the open cut too often in a row, but last year I played in order without a great weekend. This year I played really well without expressing well. So I will see, I don't know. I really didn't drive it forward.

“I love Portrush, that understands itself. It is only a very special place for me. If this is my last, there is no better place. I am determined to really enjoy it. Sometimes I tried so much that I couldn't enjoy where I was.”

After a 68-year break, Clarke was a convinced advocate of the return of the open to portrus. Peter Dawson, the former managing director of R&A, took over the case.

“I keep chirping on Peter's ear,” says Clarke. “I think he tried to avoid me at all costs. It was a courageous step in his name to oblige me to bring the open. It was the last time it was great. This will be even better. You could easily get back for you, but you didn't do it, you have been involved.”

Clarke met the problems. He understands what it means for Northern Ireland to present itself on a global sports stage. “Bombs and shootings became part and package of life,” says Clarke. “You were always cautious. I think to play golf and play in tournaments in tournaments all over Ireland at a young age, got myself to do more what happened at home, what happened at home. We went away with a terrible long way.

“That does not mean that other places in the world didn't have bad times, but they grew up in a difficult time. I was lucky that my parents gave me everything to play Golf, which in turn showed, what opportunity was possible these days.”

The last and fascinating words are for McKibbin. “I spent a lot of time with Tom, we have the same trainer,” says Clarke. “He is the real deal. He only rinses the ball. He is eager, he wants to learn so much.” It feels sensible to consider it.