NEWLY-CROWNED BRITISH Open champion Darren Clarke was seriously considering quitting golf according to his agent, Andrew Chandler.

In an interview with The Guardian, Chandler spoke of how he convinced Clarke to take a break from the game back in April, after the golfer became disillusioned due to a poor run of form that saw him finish with a round of 81 in Morocco.

Chandler explained:

“It was the lowest I have ever seen him. He wasn’t hitting the ball like he used to in Morocco, so I told him to take extra holiday.”

Bob Rotella, Clarke’s psychologist, also worked extensively with the golfer in the lead up to the Open. He revealed that Clarke’s frustration with his putting was affecting his entire game and said he was worrying too much about technique.

Rotella added:

“I used to work with stammerers: 98% of them could talk when they were in their bathroom; it was just that little doubt in public which tied them up. He had the skills – he’s a talented athlete; it was a question of freeing them up.”

Clarke produced a consummate display at the weekend, winning his first-ever major and continuing Northern Ireland’s incredible record in the sport following Rory McIlroy’s win last month.

Read The Guardian’s full report>

Read more: What Darren did next: 6 things to come for the Ulsterman>