The phenomenon that is golfers from Ireland winning majors just keeps rolling along.
And if we might be running low on superlatives, there is only rising expectation after Darren’s Clarke’s dramatic and heart warming win at the British Open.
As a result of his win, the 42-year-old Dungannon, County Tyrone native is now eligible to play in the season’s final major, the PGA, which will be held in Atlanta next month.
Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington were already signed up to play.
Now add in Clarke and we have a scenario that would have been way out of bounds just a handful of years ago: four Irish major winners playing in one major, and more than four majors in the bag between them.
The startling run of success that began with Harrington’s British Open win at Carnoustie in 2007 has seen six Irish major wins with Clarke’s capturing of the Claret Jug being the latest.
Clarke’s epic win has prompted Irish tourist chiefs to revamp a TV commercial showcasing Ireland as a golf destination. He has been included alongside his fellow Irish major champions in the ad.
“We will work hard to capitalize on the huge additional opportunity sparked by Darren’s success at the British open and Rory McIlroy’s great win at Congressional in our new ‘Home of Champions’ campaign, which is rolling out in key markets as we speak,” said Joe Byrne, Tourism Ireland’s executive vice president United States and Canada.
Tourism Ireland CEO, Niall Gibbons, was also delighting in Clarke’s success.
“This was a superb victory for Darren at Royal St George’s and we are delighted for him. He is such a terrific ambassador for golf and for Northern Ireland and this victory has placed golf in Northern Ireland, once more, to the forefront of everyone’s mind,” said Gibbons.
“Tourism Ireland is working hard to capitalize on this in Great Britain, the U.S. and in our other golf markets around the world where we are inviting potential holidaymakers to come visit the ‘Home of Champions,’” he said.
