Former Open winner Darren Clarke received his OBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace today.
The 44-year-old, who was placed in the New Year's honours list for his success on the course in 2011, claimed that his late wife Heather, who lost her fight with breast cancer six years ago, would have been proud.
"[Meeting the Queen] is right up there but the Open and Ryder Cup were much easier than this," Clarke told the BBC. "[Heather] would have been proud of me but more proud of the kids than me, sitting in there and seeing the Queen."
Clarke has competed in four Ryder Cup victories with Europe and was the vice-captain for the 2010 win.
