Ryder Cup 2006 Heroes Return to the K Club at Irish Open

By Joe Walton | May 17, 2016

KILDARE, IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 24: The European Team pose with The Ryder Cup Trophy during the closing ceremony after Europe win the Ryder Cup by a score of 18 1/2 - 9 1/2 on the final day of the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club on September 24, 2006 in Straffan, Co. Kildare, Ireland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

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Darren Clarke of the European team has his arm raised in triumph by his captain Ian Woosnam after Clarke won his singles match versus Zach Johnson of USA on the 16th green during the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club on September 24th 2006 in Kildare, Ireland (Photo by Tom Jenkins/Getty Images). An image from the book ‘In The Moment’ published June 2012 /

Darren Clarke

The 2006 Ryder Cup win was a big deal for a lot of people but especially Darren Clarke. The Northern Irishman lost his wife, Heather, just six weeks before the tournament but somehow managed to win three points after being drafted in as a captain’s pick.

Nobody who was there will forget his tears after beating Zach Johnson 3&2 in his single match.

After really struggling for form in 2007, Clarke started to find his feet again. He rediscovered that winning feeling at the BMW Asian Open in April 2008 but another win, this time at the KLM Open was not enough to get into the 2008 Ryder Cup team.

Clarke was disappointed by that omission but he continued to work hard over the next few seasons. That work paid off massively in 2011 when ‘Dazzler’ won The Open at Royal St George’s.

His form has tailed off since but Clarke is the Ryder Cup captain for Hazeltine this summer. It’s the role he was born to fulfill.

Next: Padraig Harrington

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