The Open 2011: Royal Portrush Golf Club is bursting with pride for favourite ... - Telegraph.co.uk

"Graeme McDowell is local, Rory McIlroy is Northern Ireland but Darren is ours," Mr Rankin added, with tears in his eyes. "Rory's story is phenomenal and he is going to be world No 1 for sure but everyone thought Darren was past it. Darren has come out and won the one they all really want to win. Presumably, in a few weeks, the Claret Jug is going to be sat downstairs."

Though many were crediting Clarke's performance to a sprinkling of the luck of the Irish, it was perhaps the weather of the Irish that prepared him for the conditions in Kent.

Set on the northern edge of Northern Ireland, the coast-facing course here is very similar to Royal St George's.

"There would be a lot of similarities," said John Bamber, former captain of Royal Portrush. "Both are very difficult, very exposed. The greens are more sloping than they would be here. But Darren has been very steady. It's a thrill having him back."

Bamber said the win at Sandwich would complete Clarke's CV after a prolific European career.

"We're absolutely delighted. We came here today dreaming it might happen but for it to actually happen to him now is great. He has been a great ambassador for the club and this eclipses the other Northern Irish wins.

"He was always regarded as one of the most talented amateurs ever to come out of our lot. He will probably think he can actually win a few more now."

Tony Lunn, a member of the club who travels to Portrush from Cobham in Surrey every summer with his Northern Irish wife, said: "The golfing gods were looking down on him. It's absolutely fantastic. The turning point was when he hit the shot on the ninth when the ball cleared the bunker. I said his name is on that trophy."

Clarke famously bought a drink for everyone on the plane back from his success at the Iberdrola Open earlier this year and he might have an even bigger bar bill when he returns to Northern Ireland.

He has already been pencilled in to take part in the club's upcoming father and son's Stevenson Cup. His sons played at the club on Sunday morning.

"It would just be wonderful if he could come and play with one of his lads here," said Rankin.

"But what handicap do we give him?" an organiser at the club joked.