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| Darren Clarke back in Northern Ireland after Open win | Darren Clarke back in Northern Ireland after Open win |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Golfer Darren Clarke has arrived back in Northern Ireland after his triumph at the Open on Sunday. | Golfer Darren Clarke has arrived back in Northern Ireland after his triumph at the Open on Sunday. |
| Clarke clinched his maiden major title with a three-shot victory at Royal St George's in Kent. | Clarke clinched his maiden major title with a three-shot victory at Royal St George's in Kent. |
| He flew into Belfast City Airport at lunchtime accompanied by the Claret Jug - the most famous trophy in golf. | He flew into Belfast City Airport at lunchtime accompanied by the Claret Jug - the most famous trophy in golf. |
| The Dungannon golfer was then reunited with his two sons before showing off the trophy at a hotel in Portballintrae on the north coast. | |
| Reflected on his victory, he said: "I think I'm definitely a better player now than I was 10 years ago and yes I definitely appreciate an awful lot more what I've achieved now than what I did then. | Reflected on his victory, he said: "I think I'm definitely a better player now than I was 10 years ago and yes I definitely appreciate an awful lot more what I've achieved now than what I did then. |
| "Ten years ago I did take an awful lot of things for granted | "Ten years ago I did take an awful lot of things for granted |
| "It's much easier to perform well with a smile on your face than a scowl on your face." | "It's much easier to perform well with a smile on your face than a scowl on your face." |
| Earlier, Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers led the tributes following the 42-year-old's triumph. | Earlier, Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers led the tributes following the 42-year-old's triumph. |
| 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. | "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. | Clarke hugged his mother Hetty, father Godfrey and fiancee Alison Campbell as he claimed the title of 2011 Open champion on Sunday. |
| He became only the second Northern Irishman to win the Open after Fred Daly in 1947 and is NI's third major champion in just over a year. | He became only the second Northern Irishman to win the Open after Fred Daly in 1947 and is NI's third major champion in just over a year. |
| It follows the successive US Open wins of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy. | It follows the successive US Open wins of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy. |
| Clarke, 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". | Clarke, 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. | "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". | 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." |