• European Tour

Clarke tells booze critics to 'get a life'

Darren Clarke has hit back at those who have questioned his post-Open celebrations © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: 'Fatigued' Clarke and Harrington miss cut
  
• News: McIlroy rues late mistake as McDowell struggles
  
• News: Harrington relieved to share burden with Clarke
  
• News: McIlroy claims credit for Clarke triumph
  
• Profile: Darren Clarke

Darren Clarke has hit back at those who have criticised his post-Open celebrations, telling them to 'get a life'.

The Ulsterman became a popular winner of the Claret Jug at Royal St George's earlier in the month, and marked the unexpected major success by celebrating long and hard over the ensuing days. That led to criticism in certain quarters, but the 42-year-old believes recent world events should have put his revelry into proper perspective for any dissenters.

"People need to get real. Look what happened in Norway over the weekend," Clarke said, according to The Sun. "I won a golf tournament and people are concerned about whether or not I had one pint too many. I mean, get a life. It's sport."

Clarke returns to competitive action in the Irish Open this week, nearly two weeks after his triumph in Sandwich. He admits the extended parties caught up with him over the weekend, but he won't be changing his approach to life and the game any time soon.

"The celebrations began to wind down last Thursday. I think I lit the candle a little bit too much on both ends and had the flu over the weekend," he added. "I guess that was the result of being a little bit run down but I've no complaints. And I'm not going to change anything I do.

"Why should I? It would be very poor of me if I was to change the way I am because of a few people's opinions. It's fantastic and I'm very fortunate to win, but you have 70-odd people who got murdered in Norway. That's a lot more important than talking about whether I had one pint too many or not.

"I drink a little bit too much, smoke a little bit too much and enjoy myself a little bit too much at times. But I'll put my head down and work whenever I really have to."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.