Darren Clarke Enjoys British Open Victory

Darren Clarke’s victory in the British Open for his first major championship Northern Ireland can get ready for another party.

Clarke won by three shots at Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, England, withstanding final-round challenges from Americans Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. The 42-year-old is the third Northern Irish major champion in the last 13 months after Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy captured the past two U.S. Opens.

“They’re having parties all the time,” Clarke said at a news conference as he sipped a Guinness beer. “Party for G-Mac at Portrush and a party for Rory a couple of weeks ago and I’m sure I’ll have another one this week.”

Clarke is the oldest player to win the Open since 44-year- old Roberto De Vicenzo of Argentina in 1967, and the oldest to capture a major since American Ben Crenshaw won the Masters at 43 in 1995.