Episode 203: Darren Clarke Is Still Chasing It

Episode 203: Darren Clarke Is Still Chasing It

From The Golfer's Journal Podcast by The Golfer's Journal

February 19, 2026 · 1h 10m · Episode 203

About this episode

Darren Clarke discusses his passions for fishing and golf, personal challenges, and reflections on his career.

Darren Clarke has caught 19 permit on a fly—a feat arguably more impressive than winning The Open Championship. Sitting down with Tom Coyne in the Bahamas at his home in The Abaco Club, Clarke happily explains his dual obsessions. He’s not just a boisterous Irishman you’d like to meet at a pub, he remains driven by catching the world’s most difficult fish and beating the world’s best golfers. Clarke opens up about raising his boys after losing their mother and reflects on the miracle of bringing The Open to Royal Portrush following his upbringing during The Troubles. He also breaks down what went wrong at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage and offers a simple solution for Hazeltine. Along the way: the Theodore Roosevelt quote that's driven him for 37 years, the difference between European sarcasm and American heckling, and the joys of living in paradise. The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

People in this episode

Host: Tom Coyne

Guest: Darren Clarke

Topics covered

  • fishing
  • golf
  • personal loss
  • Ryder Cup
  • Irish culture
  • parenting
  • sportsmanship

Keywords

  • Darren Clarke
  • golf
  • The Open Championship
  • Ryder Cup
  • fishing
  • parenting
  • Irish culture

Sponsors

Titleist

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Golfer's Journal

Places: Bahamas, The Abaco Club, Royal Portrush

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