Now Clarke pays tribute to Seve

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May 16, 2011

Tributes to Seve Ballesteros are still coming in – the latest from Darren Clarke, winner of the Ibetrola Open.

Tributes to the late Seve Ballesteros are still coming in – the latest from Darren Clarke, winner of the Ibetrola Open on Mallorca

Clarke paid tribute to the Spanish legend while making his victory speech after clinching his long-awaited and much needed victory on Sunday.

Clarke recovered from a four-shot deficit going into the last day of the Iberdrola Open to win by three and record his 13th career win on the European Tour.

It was an important victory for Clarke in two respects – as his first European Tour win since the Dutch Open in 2008, it broke a mini drought, but it also came in the Spanish homeland in the wake of the premature death of a man he greatly admired.

Ballesteros’ funeral dominated the build-up to the event and Clarke said that this was rightly so as it was important to recognize the impact the five-time Major winner had had on the game.

“We wouldn’t be here without him. Simple as that. The European Tour would not be in the position it is today without Seve,” Clarke insisted..

“He was the first man to do so many things and make so many of the breakthroughs that we have all been able to follow,, so to win in his homeland in the week that he passed away is a real honour.”

Later, when talking to the media about his game, Clarke said: “I’ve had a good break, worked on a few things and it was great to come back out and win.

“I’ve been a bit lucky. A few things went for me there late on and they didn’t go for him (Chris Wood, the man he beat) but I’m delighted I’ve won again.”

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