Former Open champ admits he may have played his last at Royal Troon

Former champion Darren Clarke has admitted he may have played his last Open at Royal Troon. 

Clarke made the concession to the Belfast Telegraph after his final round on Sunday. 

The Irishman made the cut at the 2024 edition of the major and went on to finish in a tie for 75th. 

He told the paper he is now pondering whether to play next year at Royal Portrush. 

But he is torn because he believes his place in the field could be taking away an opportunity from a younger golfer with a dream. 

"If I make the cut in Portrush it will be great and all that sort of stuff," he said. 

"But I've got my name on the jug and on the senior jug, and I would feel bad taking the spot away from a young kid. 

"I was a young kid once, so to take a spot away from a young kid who may fulfil his dream of playing the championship, sure, I've done mine. 

"I don't know what I will do."

Clarke wasn't alone in being a senior player who teed it up last week. 

Ernie Els and John Daly were both in the field but withdrew. 

No reason was given for Els' withdrawal but Daly later posted a grim picture of his swollen right knee on Instagram. 

Todd Hamilton had the honour of hitting the first tee shot but went on to miss the cut. 

Clarke continued: "I've been thinking about it quite a lot. 

"I'm 55 now, and I'll be 56 next year for the Open at Portrush and it may be my last one and thank you very much, that's enough for me now and I can give some young kid an opportunity that I had when I was starting off. 

"We'll see, but I am certainly looking forward to being back at Portrush."

Clarke lifted the claret jug in 2011. 

At the time, he was 42 years old and playing in his 20th Open. 

He held off challenges from Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson at Royal St George's. 

Elsewhere, Clarke expressed surprise at Rory McIlroy's performance last week. 

The 35-year-old was hoping to bounce back from his disappointment at the US Open but missed the cut. 

It was a truly dismal performance and McIlroy could only laugh as he realised early on in the second round that he was going home. 

He now faces an eight-month wait to have the opportunity to complete the career grand slam at the 2025 Masters. 

Clarke was perplexed. 

"He's a conundrum because he has God-given talent pouring out of him," he said. 

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