Away from the golf course, Darren Clarke has revelled in everything that has come his way as an Open champion over these past 12 months.
On the course, however, it's been a different story. Like the Royal Lytham rough, the Northern Irishman's year has been, well, rough. It's been more a case of barren Clarke rather than Darren Clarke but, ahead of his defence of his title over the punishing Lancashire links this week, the 42-year-old's competitive fires are being stoked again.
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