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I heard part of a incident relating to Darren Clarke at the Irish open last week. Someone who knows more, please correct me if I am wrong.

Apparently, play was delayed during the Irish Open due to weather. This annoucement came just before Darren was about to hit a shot from a terrible spot. When play resumed the next day, Darren returned to his ball (or went to drop at the marked spot I don't know which) the grass was matted down and provided Darren with a much easier shot. Darren conversed with the rules official who stated he could play the ball from the spot as it was. Darren then proceeded to hit a shot as if he was still in the tall grass - he did not go for the green - and punched out the fairway. If this is true, I have a whole new respect for Darren. Someone tell me if this is true. I heard this in one of those moments where I was nearly asleep and could have been dreaming.

Darren left the ball in situ overnight, and when he returned it may have even have been moved but the long grass had been flattened around it.
He was not happy with the situation so made the discission to play it as he would have the previous day, a wedge back onto the fairway.

Just another reason why Golf is an gentlemen's sport. But Leaguegolf brings up a good point, if a PGA official ruled on it, then why not take advantage of it. I still admire what he did though.

Did he get a ruling? My understanding is that the position was marked but the lie had been changed by passing spectators or ground staff.

He could have played it as it lay upon return. Especially as the officials declared "rub of the green". In otherwords, a meassure of good fortune in this case.

Everyone will have had different conditions on the followiing day to how they had left their balls, as every placement condition would have been different. Different amoundt of water on fairways, greens etc. Every blade of grass will have moved on the course, one way or another. Every fairway, every bit of rough, every green would be playing differently on that following day.

What Darren decided was a matter of concience. He had teed off just prior to the hooter sounding for the abandonment of play. which was unfortunate It really is admarable that he decided to play the shot he would have from that bad position. In part that decision cost him the trophy in combination with a couple of mistakes on later holes.

Personally I think in adverse weather conditions each player should be given the choice on recomencement of play, whether to play the ball from where it had finished after the hooter, or to restart that hole from the tee position, with no penalty, if the ball had not already reached the intended green. Just my opinion of course. And I also admire what he decided too & wish every golfer had half his personal pride in their sense of fair play.

When an Irish player gets a favourable ' improvement in the Irish open, he is aware of the possiblility of a misguided local having helped him.This is the same for anyone playing in their home country. To avoid any doubt, Darren took the attitude that he would not want to gain from any possible 'unfair advantage'. His attitude is that a win with that doubt is not a worthy win, and he bcaked himself to win it anyway.Sadly he did no't.

The same applied to DL3 in the last hole of his singles match against Darren in the last Ryder Cup. He knew that if he took his normal stance he could not get a free drop, but if he widened his stance he could get one. He played it as it lied and won the respect of many people.

Another side to this, I am not sure if Darrens playing partners had hit there tee shots before the hooter sounded and he didn't actually go and find his ball straight away, but left it in situ to find it later. Locals may have found it for him and flattened the grass so as to easily show its location later. When the hooter was sounded it wasn't sure if play was abandoned for the day or just suspended.

Is that what you call the bell, whistle, warning etc. over there? Not to be crude, but that word in slang means something completely different here. The wonderful english language. I've had the same experience happen with friends from South Africa. I happen to say an innocent word in front of them and did I ever get a lecture. Interesting how with the same language, completely different meanings arise.

Probably right on that observation, as with any player in their Open.

What was the entire DL3 story?

A drop meant he could go for the green, no drop meant not going for it. He took the spirit of the law above the interpretation.

Good question? I am not sure why he did that when the rule was in his favor?

OK I'll rephrase it just for you

"...He had teed off just prior to the Horn sounding for the abandonment of play..."

Thought you had some guy in charge of the US open called Hooter by the way ...?

No, that was the former chairman of Augusta National - William "Hootie" Johnson.

Yeah, that's the guy & the tournament I'm on about.