What a year 2011 was for the Northern Irish in the golfing world. 2010 had been an exceptional year as Graeme McDowell won the US Open and also scored the winning point for Europe in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor. Graeme McDowell ended 2010 as world number six, and 21 year old sensation Rory McIlroy finished the year tenth. McIlroy only missed out on his first major when he missed a putt on the final hole at the PGA Championship to miss out on a play-off by one shot. So all in all, a very successful year. 2011 though would be even better. Unfortunately for McDowell, he could not repeat the highs of 2010 as his form and ranking dipped over the year. He missed three cuts out of the four majors, which highlighted his poor year. For Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke however, the year was a much different story. The latter would have had little expectations coming into the year. 2010 had seen Darren Clarke finish runner up twice, and he had only managed to finish in the top ten four times all year.
Darren Clarke kisses the Claret Jug.
2011 started pretty averagely for Clarke as he had a few top twenties here and there, but it wasn't until the middle of May when Clarke won the Iberdrola Open in Mallorca that his year started to look up. This seemed like a false hope as Clarke couldn't finish in the top 40 in any of next five events. But then, as we know, at the Open Championship at Royal St George's Clarke's life changed forever. His life long goal of winning a major championship was finally a realisation. It was young amateur Tom Lewis who stole the show on the first day of the major, but with an opening 68, Clarke had positioned himself nicely in the upper end of the pack. A second consecutive 68 saw Clarke have a share of the lead with American Lucas Glover. Suddenly Clarke was being talked about as a potential winner, but the pressure of a home major championship had defeated so many before him, and it was seen as more of a wish then a great probability. However, at the end of day 3, Clarke remained at the top of the leaderboard with a one shot lead over Dustin Johnson. Darren Clarke would go into the last day of a major championship in the final pairing. Pressure? What pressure? Clarke seemed oblivious to the hype and possible outcomes, he was focused on one thing, and that was to play the way he always plays. And whilst everyone else around failed, he held strong to secure himself the Open title by three shots. A thoroughly deserved victory, and a massively popular one too. After all Clarke had been through with the death of his late wife, no-one could begrudge Clarke his victory.
McIlroy hugs his father after winning his first major.
McIlroy and majors have always proved an interesting combination. The first time we saw McIlory unleashing his undoubted talent was at the 2009 PGA Championship at at Hazeltine. McIlroy played consistently well as he finished tied for third at -3. 2010 was the nearly year for McIroy. Firstly at the Open at St Andrew's, McIlroy shot an opening round 63 which was a course record. As we know, McIlroy imploded in the second round as he shot an 80, cancelling out his fantastic first round. After a third round 69, McIlroy recorded a final round 68 to finish tied for third at -8. Then at the 2010 PGA Championship, McIlroy again finished third as three great rounds put McIlroy in with a real chance to win his first major. However, after a nervy final round 72 McIlroy missed the play-off by one shot after a missed 15-foot birdie putt on the final whole. 2011 was then widely expected to bring success for young McIlroy. The first major of the year, The Masters at Augusta looked like it would be McIlroy's first taste of major success. McIlroy hit a superb 65 on day one to take a share of the lead. He followed this up with a 69, to leave him top of the leaderboard by two shots. Two shots had extended to four by the end of day three. Surely it was now just a formality for McIlroy. A formality it was not. McIlroy for the second time in a major imploded. A front nine 37 was enough to keep him in the lead, but he followed the front nine with a back nine 43. McIlroy ended up ten shots off the lead. Would McIlroy ever have the bottle to win a major. The answer would come at the very next major. At the 2011 US Open at Congressional McIlroy finally met his destiny. McIlroy once again held a first round lead after a round of 65. A second round 66 gave McIlroy a six shot lead over his nearest rival Y.E. Yang. After a third round 68, the lead was up to eight shots. Surely not even McIlroy could throw away this led. And so it proved, McIlroy put his demons to rest as he won the tournament by eight shots after a final round 69. McIlroy was a major champion, but in doing it McIlroy had set a number of major records, including being only the third person ever to shoot four rounds below 70.
So now we are in 2012, what does the year hold for the Northern Irish stars? Firstly Darren Clarke. Clarke's results since his Open triumph have been poor at best. It is no secret that Clarke has struggled for motivation since his greatest ever win. His form has also dipped considerably, and it will be a tough ask for Clarke to come anywhere the success of 2011. If Clarke is to achieve anything this year then he will have to work incredibly hard and will undoubtedly look to the 2012 Open as his chance of success. The other incentive for Clarke will be the fact that 2012 is a Ryder Cup year. Clarke has had much success in the past with the Ryder Cup, and hopefully the motivation of competing for a fifth Ryder Cup victory will be enough to spur him on for the year ahead.
2012 could bring more success for Northern Ireland.
For Graeme McDowell 2012 could be another big year. After a modest 2011, G-Mac will be looking to get back to his very best form. McDowell finished 2011 13th in the world rankings, having dropped from 6th at the end of 2010. The pressure of being US Open was clearly a burden for the Portrush born star. McDowell struggled all 2011 with the pressure of expectation. But with the eyes firmly focussed on fellow star Rory McIlroy, McDowell can go about his game the way he wants. Just like Darren Clarke, McDowell has fond memories of the Ryder Cup, not least his winning performance in 2010. This in itself will provide a big incentive for McDowell. But McDowell will know that with young talent emerging, majors are rare prizes. With McDowell still at his prime, 2012 is a realistic chance for more major silverware.
And what about young McIlroy. At 22 McIlroy's future is still in front of him, and it will still be a few years until we see the very best of this prestigious talent. 2011 was an important year for Rory as he finally got his first major. 2012 could be even more successful. Not to harp on about it, but the Ryder Cup will be a big motivation for McIlroy, and with America proving to be his happy hunting ground, the Masters, the US Open, the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup will be McIlroy's target for the year ahead. The other motivation for McIlroy will be Luke Donald's world number one spot. McIlroy is the most naturally talented golfer in the world's top ten at the moment, but consistency will be key to McIlroy becoming world number one. 2012 has already started well with a runner-up finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in his first start of the season. Confidence is seemingly not an issue for the young man and now he knows he can win majors, 2012 could be McIlroy's most successful year yet. We know McIlroy wants to surpass Tiger, and majors are what matter, so every opportunity to get one must be taken.
Kaymer, Donald and Westwood
will all be a threat in 2012.
The only thing standing in the way of more Northern Irish dominance is some other reasonably good golfers. For example, world number one Luke Donald. Donald had a fantastic 2011, even though it was without a major, Donald was named PGA Tour player of the year and won the money lists on both the PGA and European Tours. Then there's Lee Westwood. Westwood is desperate for major success. The Worksop wonder has tasted success at tour level and has been so close to a major, but his first one still eludes him. There is a resurgent Sergio Garcia to contend with. Garcia has finally learnt to putt which makes him a dangerous player. Again Sergio is one of those who has come so close to major success but has always fallen just short. A play-off defeat against Padraig Harrington in 2007 signals his closest effort yet. Martin Kaymer is another who will look to threaten this year. The former world number one had a largely disappointing 2011, but will look to bounce back in 2012. Then there is the Jason Day. Like Donald, a very consistent player, and like Westwood, one who has come very close to winning a major but has fallen just short. The Australian will look to get his maiden major after a decent display in the three American majors last year.
Woods and Johnson will both be hoping
for a successful year in 2012.
Then we come to the American challenge. Dustin Johnson is another close major winner who has the game to win but has fallen at the last hurdle so far. The world number 9 enjoys the long courses and showed that he can play in even the toughest conditions after his runner up display at the Open last year. Keegan Bradley and Bill Haas will be two more who will seek to have a strong 2012. Both men will be high on confidence after their strong finish to 2011. Bradley has the added advantage of securing his first major in his first full season on the tour. Haas' tour championship victory over the best players in the world will stand him in good stead for the coming season. Phil Mickelson is another who knows how to win. Lefty had a hugely disappointing 2011 with only his performance at Royal St George's worth talking about. Mickelson though is always a threat, but doubts remain whether he is past his best and whether he can consistently put four good rounds together. And so that leaves us with a certain Mr Woods. After a tumultuous last couple of years Woods is looking to recapture form and fitness to continue his charge at Jack Nicklaus' record of eighteen major victories. After a seemingly hopeless 2011, Woods has started 2012 just the way he wanted. His third place at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship suggests he still has the game to beat the best in the world. There will be few excuses for Woods this year, provided he remains fit and healthy. Tiger is back inside the world's top 20, and with only one Ryder Cup victory to his name, Woods will want 2012 to be a comeback year of epic proportions.
Only time will tell if 2012 will be another great year for Northern Irish golf. It is certainly one they can look forward to, but with the talent that is on show on the world stage, and major victory will be a massive achievement for this small nation. There is no reason why 2012 can't be a great year, but the last seven majors have all had first time winners, so the mould will need to be broken for the Northern Irish to celebrate.
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