HE TOLD US he’s just a ‘normal guy’ and last night he proved it.

Darren Clarke has not yet been to bed having spent the night celebrating his memorable British Open victory at Sandwich.

“I’ve looked at the trophy all night and sort of semi figured out it’s mine,” said a bleary-eyed Clarke when he faced the press this morning.

I probably won’t get any sleep until tomorrow at some stage. You have to enjoy it when you can. I had quite a few pints and quite a few glasses of red wine and it all continued until about 30 minutes ago. It’s been a very good night.

Clarke is of course the third Major winner from the six counties in 13 months following victories from Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy. And US Open champion McIlroy was quick to pick up the phone again this morning.

The Holywood man tweeted this lunchtime:

But Clarke insisted that though he had a few celebratory drinks, nothing had been poured into the trophy.

“I’m a little bit of a traditionalist, he said. “I feel a bit funny about putting stuff in the Claret Jug that shouldn’t be in there. “There’s nothing in it as yet. That may not be the case as the week goes by.”

CNN golf correspondent Shane O’Donoghue told Sean O’Rourke on RTE’s News at One that he ‘was lucky enough to take a sup out of the Claret Jug’ himself last night however.

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The Twitter reaction to Clarke’s win>