British Open back at Royal Portrush and puts on quite a show
The Open returned to Royal Portrush after a 68-year absence and made up for lost time with an unusual amount of theater Thursday. He was the betting favorite who as a 16-year-old stunned Irish golf with a 61 to set the course record at Royal Portrush in the North of Ireland Amateur. The throaty cheers went silent when his tee shot went left and out of bounds. Clarke turned and applauded the grandstand that filled up before his opening tee shot at 6:35 a.m., and he treated everyone else to three birdies through five holes. That belonged to Royal Portrush and the people who filled the links to see championship golf.