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Darren Clarke: A long pursuit ends with Open glory

Darren Clarke finally got his hands on the trophy he most wanted to win © Getty Images

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• Profile: Darren Clarke

The past 12 months of the sporting calendar have thrown up a plethora of memorable performances, including a near-invincible tennis star, a globally-loved golfing success story, and a footballing magician who seems only to need one foot. Leading up to Christmas, ESPN will name its top 10 sports personalities of the year in ascending order...

There was barely a dry eye in the house as Darren Clarke strode up the 18th fairway at Royal St George's, taking the acclaim ahead of sinking the closing putt to win the Open Championship.

It was a quite stunning turnaround for one of sport's nice guys. Clarke, who lost his wife to cancer in 2006, had considered quitting the sport following a dire showing at the Trophee Hassan in April of this year.

"It was the lowest I have seen him," Clarke's great friend and agent Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler said. "He was not hitting the ball well and shot 81 and 75 over the weekend. He talked about giving up."

Clarke put the clubs away for three weeks before returning with a spring in his step to win the Iberdrola Open. The win at Pula Golf Club filled Clarke with belief and set him on a course to throw down a serious challenge at the Open.

He went into his 20th Open Championship somewhat under the radar, but working on his game at Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland had filled him with confidence that he could master the challenge.

"I was playing Royal Portrush in the winter, in conditions that would have made those at Sandwich look calm," he said.

Links golf is suited to Clarke's playing style, shaping the ball low beneath the wind being a distinct advantage. With the wind howling in Kent, Clarke took confidence from a fine opening round of 68 and reinforced that by surging into the lead in round two. Crucially he putted well and importantly had luck on his side, which was hammered home at the ninth hole in the final round when he fluffed his second shot and it looked destined for a pot bunker, only to skip over the face and onto the green.

After fending off a charge from Phil Mickelson, Clarke had the luxury of walking up the 18th with a three-shot lead - cheered all the way by a legion of fans. As one journalist said in the press conference, 'I think there are about 40,000 people here and I'm sure at least 39,000 of them wanted you to win'.

"Walking down the 18th fairway was an unbelievable feeling," he said. "The crowds behind me all week were amazing. The cheers spurred me on every time I heard them. Even if I had been playing in Ireland, people could not have been any more enthusiastic. Spectators seemed to relate to me because I was not a honed athlete. I was somebody who liked to enjoy himself a bit away from the course."

Clarke was asked why he had become so popular. "Because I'm a bit of a normal bloke, aren't I, really?" he said. "I like to grab a pint … jump on an EasyJet, fly home and buy a round."

Clearly a man of the people, but his effervescent nature should not mask a supremely gifted golfer who buried his demons to lift the Claret Jug.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.