Shanks for memories says Clarke
It took Darren Clarke 14 years to banish the demons of the longest shankk in his career in the 1997 Open at Royal Troonoon and finally lift the Claret Jug.
The Northern Irishman led the opening two days 19 years ago and was stillll in the hunt going into the final round when he sat just two shots behind Jesper Parnevik.
Clarke moved within a shot of thee Swede after a birdie at the first but it all turned sour when he later shanked a 4-ironon shot on to Troon beach.
Looking back, a smiling Clarke said: “It“It was the longest shank I’ve ever hit!t! It just took off, probably going 220 yards right on to the beach in the wrong direction.on.
“I’ve shanked a few since. Nothinging like that one but that’s golf, isn’t it?”
Clarke double-bogeyed as Justin Leonard came storming through with a final-nal-day day 65 and he and Parnevik shared second place three shots behind the American.rican.
But 14 years later the popularr golfer finally got his hands on the Claretet Jug in The Open at Royal St George’s.
Clarke said: “Going back to Troonoon this year will be slightly different knowingng what I achieved at Royal St George’s.
“The great thing about Troon iss that it is a very fair golf course and youou can’t give any course a better compliment than that.”