On Monday at the Nissan Irish Open, Darren Clarke received credit for basically taking a penalty stroke when he didn't really need to. Obviously Clarke deserves all of the praise being showered upon him for serving as a rules official and showing the integrity that all golfers wish they had, but don't think for a minute that Clarke's plan was without motive.

Darren Clarke, a man who spent many a night pondering both life and golf over a pint of Guinness must have had many talks with the golf gods, and through these talks he learned two important lessons: never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line, and never doubt that Karma exists in golf. Karma is the force that controls the game we love, and a player needs to accept that before he is to play well.

Darren Clarke just bought himself "members' bounces" for life, and if a few show up in either the U.S. or British Opens, that might be all he needs to make a run at his first major title.

Don't be surprised when something inconceivably lucky happens to Clarke in the coming months. Let's just hope the gods take the week of the Ryder Cup off, because then we'll all be in trouble.

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