Darren Clarke holed a 72nd hole birdie to win the Senior Open and avoid a play-off against his old Ryder Cup team-mate Padraig Harrington at Gleneagles.After a disastrous front nine Harrington clawed himself back into contention with a final round 67 to post a nine-under total.The three-time Major winner made the turn in 37 after a bogey at seven and a double bogey at nine, but he tore up the famous course coming back, shooting six birdies to take the clubhouse lead with Clarke on the 16th.Clarke failed to fire on a wet Sunday - where play was suspended due to heavy rain - shooting nine pars on the front nine before carding with a bogey six 10 and getting his shot back with a birdie three at 12.On the 17th tee he knew he had two holes to find a birdie or face a play-off against his old pal Harrington.
He could only par the penultimate hole so it was on to the par-five 18th, where he had recorded a birdie in each of his first three rounds.As the darkness grew deeper near 9pm, Clarke found the front fringe of the par-five with his second shot.
He rolled his eagle putt close enough and when playing partner Paul Broadhurst missed his putt he knew his tap-in birdie would seal a Senior Open to go with the Open he won in 2011.