SANDWICH, England (AP) — Darren Clarke gave Northern Ireland another major championship Sunday.
The
42-year-old came into the week as an afterthought, but three straight
scores in the 60s and a par 70 in the final round lifted him to a
comfortable three-stroke victory over Americans Dustin Johnson and Phil
Mickelson.
Mickelson made an impressive charge on the front side,
actually moving into a share of the lead with an eagle at No. 7. But
Clarke came along and put up an eagle of his own at the same hole, then
watched Mickelson fade down the stretch for a 68.
Clarke won with a
5-under 275, following the path of younger countrymen Rory McIlroy and
Graeme McDowell as a major champion. They won the last two U.S. Opens.
No
one could’ve seen this coming. It had been a decade since Clarke was a
serious contender in a Grand Slam event, and the one-time face of
Northern Ireland golf was thought to be long past his prime.
Well, he showed the kids a thing or two at Royal St. George’s.
Johnson
was within two strokes of the lead when he made a huge blunder,
knocking an iron shot out of bounds from the 14th fairway. He wound
taking a double-bogey that ended his chances, another disappointment
playing in the final group of a major.
Johnson settled for a 72, leaving him tied with Mickelson at 278.
Last
year, Johnson threw away a lead at the U.S. Open with a closing 82, and
he will forever be remembered for taking a two-stroke penalty of the
72nd hole of the PGA Championship to miss out on a playoff.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.