Darren Clarke On His Former Life Of Shopping Excess

An excerpt from Darren Clarke's autobiography provides a glimpse into his life of excess, and a possible warning side for a clothes fetish that could prove ugly when he gets his way and becomes 2014 Ryder Cup captain.

One thing that has been a constant throughout my career and for most of my life is that when it comes to shopping and spending, I have few rivals. My excesses often have to be seen to be believed.

If I said I once bought 60 pairs of Calvin Klein underpants, would you believe me? Didn’t think so, but I did. Or 40 pairs of trousers on the same day from the same shop? Yes, I did. Or thirty belts? Yes, that’s me. I’ve had 15 Ferraris, three Lamborghinis and an assortment of Jags, Bentleys, Mercedes, BMWs and Porsches. The most cars I’ve ever had at once was seven and I’ll admit that was a little excessive. I’m more sensible now.

Padraig's G-III Can Be Had, VCR Included

From Brian Keogh's Irish Golf Desk blog.  And the ad for those of you in the market...

It’s fitted with five single cabin seats “in cappuccino leather”, two double club seats and a four-seater divan that doubles as a bed.

The interior features cream leather, suede and wool carpets in “camel and blue” as well as “new, richly detailed, high gloss teak woodwork.” 

Harrington regularly used the jet to travel with his family and enjoyed every luxury in the book.

The plane has a Sony DVD Player and VCR, a top of the range sound system, two flat screen TV monitors, satellite internet, a Nordskog convection oven, an Omni Fax/Copier, a Braun coffee maker and dual, eight-man life rafts.

While Harrington is believed to have loved his toy, which made it easy to travel with his family and helped him overcome the effects of jetlag, it was costing him a fortune in fuel and maintenance costs and just had to go.

Shorts-Wearers Win Three Of Four Matches In Turkey Final

Derek Lawrenson in the Daily Mail, reporting on day one of the Turkey Final cash grab, which included of pro football pro-am participants...errr...golfers Lee Westwood and Charl Schwartzel in shorts.

The other thing of note was the fact, for the first time in a leading professional event, the players were allowed to wear shorts if they chose. Four of the eight-man field took up the option.

Intriguingly, all four matches featured one man wearing long trousers and his opponent wearing shorts.

The result of that little game-within-a-game was three to one in favour of the men trying something new.

Sea Island Mafia Revealed: Partial To Oak Trees, Worshipful Of Their Don Davis Love

Karen Crouse travels to St. Simons Island, population 13,000 and branded by a headline writer as the "new capital for U.S. golf." She tries to understand what it is about the wealthy enclave that is spurring so many successful Americans including the Captain and three Ryder Cuppers.

The players were drawn to St. Simons, part of the Golden Isles chain of barrier islands along Georgia’s southeast coast, at least in part by Love, a 20-time PGA Tour winner whom they affectionately refer to as Uncle Davis.

“He’s everything from a plumber to an electrician to a hunting guide to a fishing expert, not to mention a pretty good chef when we grill out,” Snedeker said. “He’s kind of like everybody’s safety net.”

Hunter had no chance!

Matt Kuchar feels at peace with the oaks.

“It has beautiful low-country scenery with the reeds, the marshes and the oceanfront property as well,” said Kuchar, who moved his family here two years ago. “I think one of the things that I may enjoy the most is seeing these big oak trees. Something about going down a drive with just big old oak trees canopying a place puts me at peace. And then having the ocean; something about the natural ebb and flow of an ocean adds an unreal, peaceful rhythm to the place.”

Well, now I get it!