Darren Clarke ~ Celebrity

Darren Christopher Clarke (born 14 August 1968) is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland who plays on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour. He has representedIreland as an amateur and as a professional. He was born in Dungannon, County Tyrone. He played college golf at Wake Forest University in the United States.

Clarke was ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings for 43 weeks between 2000 and 2002.^[1] The most prestigious titles he has won are the 2000 WGC-Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship when he defeated Tiger Woods in the final, and the2003 WGC-NEC Invitational. His highest finish on the European Tour money list is second, which he achieved in 1998, 2000 and 2003. He has represented Ireland in the World Cup and Alfred Dunhill Cup and played for Europe on five consecutive Ryder Cup teams 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2006.

Clarke is represented by International Sports Management.

Private life

Clarke met his wife Heather in a nightclub in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The couple had two sons, Tyrone (born 1998) and Conor (born 2001), and the family lived at Sunningdale, Berkshire. In 2005 and 2006 he missed several tournaments to care for his wife, who was diagnosed with both primary and, later, secondary breast cancer. Heather Clarke died on Sunday 13 August 2006 at 39 years of age, in the Royal Marsden Hospital, London (the day before her husband's 38th birthday).

Clarke's friend, Paul McGinley immediately announced his own withdrawal from the PGA Championship starting in Medinah, Illinois on Thursday. In a statement McGinley said,"Our two families are very much intertwined, obviously me and Darren, but Heather and (McGinley's wife) Ali were the best of friends and our kids are in the same class at school. So it is a tough time for us all" ^[2] Clarke later made himself available for selection for the 2006 Ryder Cup. European captain Ian Woosnam chose him as one of his two wild cards and he contributed 3 points from 3 matches to Europe's victory.

Clarke is a keen cigar smoker, on and off the golf course, and has been reported to spend an estimated £25,000 per year on cigars. He has also been known for smoking a pipe, in particular during practice for the 2006 Dubai Desert Classic.

Darren was the favourite to win the 2006 Sports Personality Of The year award, but was runner-up to Zara Phillips. Darren had previously stated he didn't want to win based on a sympathy vote concerning his wife's death.