Newly crowned Open Championship winner Darren Clarke says his victory at Royal St George's is about more than money.
The Northern Irishman, 42, beat American pair Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson by three shots to claim his first major title on Sunday.
The win will net him a reported £3 million all-up, but Clarke said the victory was about the honour of being champion of the prestigious event and not the financial benefit.
"That is beyond price, yes. For all my golfing career, to get my name on here, it means more than anything," Clarke said.
"Chub (Clarke's agent Andrew Chandler) will, as he always does, look after everything and I'll be fortunate that it will benefit me hugely financially, but it's more to have my name on there, which is the most important thing.
"What's more important is when I get home, maybe later on today, and have my boys have the trophy in their hands and look at their dad's name on the trophy ... that's more important."
Clarke finished second at the Open in 1997 before becoming the oldest winner of the major since 1967 on Sunday.
He did not fill the claret jug with Guinness as initially promised, but he did have a long night of celebrations."
I had quite a few pints and quite a few beers and quite a few glasses of red wine and it all continued into about 30 minutes ago," Clarke said.
"There's been nothing in it (the trophy) overnight at all, there's nothing in there. I'm a little bit of a traditionalist.
"I love the thought of whatever being in the trophy but I'm more of a two iron instead as opposed to a rescue. I'm that sort of a guy."
Clarke could yet represent Europe in next year's Ryder Cup, a tournament he has not played since 2006, despite points from his win not going towards qualifying.
"Unfortunately, these points don't qualify for the team next year, but in saying that I am a major champion so (captain) Jose Maria Olazabal will be paying attention, as he always does, so we'll see where that brings me," he said.
- Sportal
source: newshub archive
