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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Darren Clarke: NI ministers' tributes after Open win | Darren Clarke: NI ministers' tributes after Open win |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers have led the tributes following Darren Clarke's triumph at the Open. | Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers have led the tributes following Darren Clarke's triumph at the Open. |
| Clarke clinched his maiden major title with a three-shot victory at Royal St George's. | Clarke clinched his maiden major title with a three-shot victory at Royal St George's. |
| He became only the second Northern Irishman to win the Open after Fred Daly in 1947. | He became only the second Northern Irishman to win the Open after Fred Daly in 1947. |
| Clarke is the region's third major champion in just over a year. | Clarke is the region's third major champion in just over a year. |
| It follows the successive US Open wins of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. | It follows the successive US Open wins of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. |
| First Minister Peter Robinson said there was "no more deserving or popular a winner than Darren". | First Minister Peter Robinson said there was "no more deserving or popular a winner than Darren". |
| "I, along with all the people of Northern Ireland, would like to congratulate him on becoming the Open champion," he said. | |
| "Scotland may be the spiritual home of golf but Northern Ireland is unquestionably home to the world's best golfers. | "Scotland may be the spiritual home of golf but Northern Ireland is unquestionably home to the world's best golfers. |
| "I once again would say to the golfing world to come to Northern Ireland to see for themselves why we are the home of golf's champions." | "I once again would say to the golfing world to come to Northern Ireland to see for themselves why we are the home of golf's champions." |
| Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said that over the four days of the tournament, Clarke had "conducted himself with a grace and quiet determination that is nothing short of outstanding". | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said that over the four days of the tournament, Clarke had "conducted himself with a grace and quiet determination that is nothing short of outstanding". |
| Clarke hugged his mother Hetty, father Godfrey and fiancee Alison Campbell as he claimed the title of 2011 Open champion on Sunday. | |
| He is due back in Northern Ireland later on Monday. | He is due back in Northern Ireland later on Monday. |
| The Dungannon golfer, who lost his wife Heather to breast cancer in 2006, said he had been writing his acceptance speech for 20 years and it had been "a long bumpy road". | The Dungannon golfer, who lost his wife Heather to breast cancer in 2006, said he had been writing his acceptance speech for 20 years and it had been "a long bumpy road". |
| He paid tribute to Heather and to their sons Tyrone and Conor. | He paid tribute to Heather and to their sons Tyrone and Conor. |
| "I've had good and bad things happen to me on the way," he said. | "I've had good and bad things happen to me on the way," he said. |
| "Sometimes I was good, sometimes I was bad, but I have had so much support from everyone. | |
| "This means a lot to me and my family and as you may know there is someone up there looking down on me as well. | "This means a lot to me and my family and as you may know there is someone up there looking down on me as well. |
| 'Pinnacle' | 'Pinnacle' |
| "I can't thank you enough for the support I've had this past four days. The roaring has helped me to stand here and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart." | "I can't thank you enough for the support I've had this past four days. The roaring has helped me to stand here and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart." |
| Hetty Clarke said she had always been convinced her son would collect a major title. | Hetty Clarke said she had always been convinced her son would collect a major title. |
| "I am so delighted for Darren, he has worked so hard all these years and this is the pinnacle," she added. | "I am so delighted for Darren, he has worked so hard all these years and this is the pinnacle," she added. |
| "We have been here 20 years with Darren, following him at every Open and it just couldn't get any better than this. | "We have been here 20 years with Darren, following him at every Open and it just couldn't get any better than this. |
| "Everybody knew he had the talent, it was just for him to believe he had the talent and it came through this week." | "Everybody knew he had the talent, it was just for him to believe he had the talent and it came through this week." |
| Godfrey Clarke described his son's achievement as "absolutely marvellous". | |
| "It is another one for Northern Ireland and I couldn't really put it into words," he said. | "It is another one for Northern Ireland and I couldn't really put it into words," he said. |
| "We are totally over the moon for him and all the family." | "We are totally over the moon for him and all the family." |
| Clarke began his career at Dungannon Golf Club in County Tyrone and is an honorary life member there. | Clarke began his career at Dungannon Golf Club in County Tyrone and is an honorary life member there. |
| Sean Hughes, who is honorary secretary of the club, said the golfer was a "great ambassador" for Northern Ireland. | Sean Hughes, who is honorary secretary of the club, said the golfer was a "great ambassador" for Northern Ireland. |
| "I was captain here in 1987, Darren was 17 then and I remember the television cameras coming down to watch him and he played shots in from the seventh fairway to the green, peppering the flag all the time," he added. | "I was captain here in 1987, Darren was 17 then and I remember the television cameras coming down to watch him and he played shots in from the seventh fairway to the green, peppering the flag all the time," he added. |
| "We knew he was going to be a star for he had that charisma about him." | "We knew he was going to be a star for he had that charisma about him." |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson, also congratulated Clarke on his victory and expressed his support for the Open being held in the region in the future. | Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson, also congratulated Clarke on his victory and expressed his support for the Open being held in the region in the future. |
| "His brilliant win completes a 'hat-trick' of golfing triumphs for Northern Ireland, two US Open and the British Open, in just over a year," he said. | "His brilliant win completes a 'hat-trick' of golfing triumphs for Northern Ireland, two US Open and the British Open, in just over a year," he said. |
| "As well as world class golfers there are world class golf courses in Northern Ireland and It would be great to see the Open played here." | "As well as world class golfers there are world class golf courses in Northern Ireland and It would be great to see the Open played here." |