Clarke conquers at the K Club

Darren Clarke won the Smurfit European Open in front of 27,000 Irish fans today.

Darren Clarke won the Smurfit European Open in front of 27,000 Irish fans today.

A closing 66 laced with seven birdies - one of them more than a touch lucky - gave the Clarke the £333,330 first prize with a 15 under partotal of 273.

Dubliner, Padraig Harrington birdied the last finish joint second with the pairing of Thomas Bjorn and Ian Woosnam.

Meanwhile, Dane Thomas Bjorn won himself - or rather his wife Pernilla - a diamond valued at nearly £100,000 by eagling the 16th and 18th holes.

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He had needed to make them to reach 14 under for the par fives for the week and did it with a 12-foot putt on the last.

PA