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Darren Clarke's first golfing tutors tell of childhood dedication
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British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
US Open Champions Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell with Open Championship winner Darren Clarke pictured in Portrush
Darren Kidd
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
Darren Kidd
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
Darren Kidd
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
Darren Kidd
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
Darren Kidd
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
Darren Kidd
British Open Championship winner Darren Clarke returns to his adopted hometown club, Royal Portrush
Darren Kidd
Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland holds the Claret Jug aloft following his victory at the end of the final round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 17, 2011 in Sandwich, England
Streeter Lecka
SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland lifts the Claret Jug aloft following his victory at the end of the final round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 17, 2011 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Stuart Franklin
SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 17: General View of the final leaderboard at the end of the final round following Darren Clarke's victory in The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 17, 2011 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Scott Halleran
SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Manager Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler holds the Claret Jug following Darren Clarke's victory at the end of the final round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 17, 2011 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Streeter Lecka
SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 17: A banner is towed behind a light aircraft congratulating Darren Clarke on his victory during the final round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 17, 2011 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Streeter Lecka
SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland celebrates victory on the 18th green during the final round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 17, 2011 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Scott Halleran
SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland toasts his victory with a pint of Guinness at the end of the final round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 17, 2011 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Stuart Franklin
SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland toasts his victory with a pint of Guinness at the end of the final round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 17, 2011 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Stuart Franklin
SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Manager Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler embraces Darren Clarke's girlfriend Alison Campbell at the end of the final round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 17, 2011 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Stuart Franklin
SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Manager Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler embraces Darren Clarke's girlfriend Alison Campbell at the end of the final round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 17, 2011 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Stuart Franklin
SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland holds the Claret Jug following his victory at the end of the final round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 17, 2011 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Ross Kinnaird
SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland embraces his caddy John Mulrooney on the 18th green following his victory during the final round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 17, 2011 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Stuart Franklin
Darren Clarke
Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke looks over at the Claret Jug during a press conference after the 2011 Open Championship
Darren Clarke holds the Claret Jug after winning the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George's, Sandwich
Darren Clarke
Darren Clarke celebrates after making a birdie on the 12th during round three of the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George's, Sandwich
David Davies
Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland waits with caddy John Mulrooney and Lucas Glover (R) of the United States during the third round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 16, 2011 in Sandwich, England
Streeter Lecka
Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke tees off during round three of the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George's, Sandwich
David Davies
Darren Clarke during the third round during round three of the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George's, Sandwich
Owen Humphreys
Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke during round three of the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George's, Sandwich
David Davies
Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke stretches before teeing off during round three of the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George's, Sandwich
David Davies
Lori Moore, Darren Clarke and Alison Campbell at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
The Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Sarah Moore, Ruth Gorman and Charlene McLean
Jessica McCrea, Emma Hughes, Jennifer Carson, Gemma Boyle, Lori Moore and Sasha Gale at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Carla Nugent and Martina McElhatten at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Eve Bannon, Danielle Hibbert and Sean Loughran at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Irene Leahey, Denise Robinson and Mary Martin at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Joanne Smith, Joe Braden and Grainne McGarvey at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Eddie Corcan, John Shannon and Stephen Ramsay at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Christine Murphy, Peter Gilroy and Finola Guinnane at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Sibonguile Mude, Charlotte Sythes and Danielle Wong at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Sarah and Stephanie McQuillan at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Sara McDowell and Tara McLaughlin at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Sophie Calderwood, Grace Kerr and Fiona Kerr at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Jonathan Taylor, Hannah Campbell, Holly Lyons and Carly Campbell at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Jenny Monroe and Sarah Toland at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Male Model of the Year Rob Rea, Newcomer of the Year Fionola Guinnane, Promotional Model of ythe Year Jacqueline Gracey and Model of the Year Ciara McStravick at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Valerie Kirkpatrick, Louise Roe, Alison Campbell and Joleen McKee at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Model of the Year Ciara McStravick with Valerie Kirkpatrick, Joleen McKee, Alison Campbell and Louise Roe at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Male Model of the Year Rob Rea with Valerie Kirkpatrick, Joleen McKee, Alison Campbell and Louise Roe at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Promotional Model of the Year Jacqueline Gracey with Valerie Kirkpatrick, Alison Campbell and Joleen McKee at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Newcomer of the Year Fionola Guinnane with Valerie Kirkpatrick, Alison Campbell and Joleen McKee at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Peter Gilroy at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Sarah Moore, Ruth Forman and Charlene McLean at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Alison Campbell and friends at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Stephanie McGall, Ashleigh Moore and Naomi Sheard at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Judith McAteer, Michael Good and Sophie Harrison at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Emma Murphy, Anna Hansan, Sophie Harrison and Judith McAteer at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Michael Good, Andrew Bree and Kyle Anderson at the Alison Campbell Modelling Agency Christmas Party at Cafe Vaudeville. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com
Alison Campbell at the Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year Awards
Darren Clarke with Alison Campbell. 'Everything is fantastic at the moment,' he says
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The three men who taught Darren Clarke how to play golf have paid tribute to the veteran Open winner's dedication to the sport.
Clarke's father, Godfrey, recalled his son's early years at Dungannon Golf Club, where many of the champion's golfing honours and photographs now proudly adorn the walls.
"I used to be the head greenkeeper and he would come out with me at 8am and we'd get a phone call then possibly at half nine at night saying 'I'm ready to go home now'.
"At least we knew where he was and he was getting up to no harm," he added.
Godfrey's friend Raymond McGerr has known Darren since he was five.
"Godfrey and Hatty (Clarke's mother) gave up an awful lot in the early years for Darren and it's great to see him repay it the way he has done. He hasn't forgotten the people who followed him in the early days," Mr McGerr said.
The third member of the trio of Clarke's early golfing tutors, Boyd Hunter, played with Darren until he was old enough to compete on the amateur circuit.
"He was always talented but a lot of kids are talented. To do what Darren has done takes more than talent, it's the whole package really," Mr Hunter said.
After a number of years in London, Clarke moved back with his sons Tyrone and Connor to the seaside town of Portrush last year and built a house overlooking the course he described yesterday as "the best in the world".
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