T.J.'s Take: Real tearjerkers

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It was the kind of putt you try to lag up there to set up a tap in -- not the kind that's meant to disappear into the bottom of the hole to produce a thrilling win.

But that's exactly what happened Sunday and it was a long time coming for one world-class player.

Was that something, or what?

You almost wanted to shed a tear for him, didn't you? I know I did.

T.J. Auclair

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If you're wondering, why I would want to shed tears over another win for a 20-something with to-die-for looks and a to-die-for swing, then, my friend, we're just not on the same page. As brilliant as Adam Scott's 48-footer for birdie on the third hole of a playoff to defeat Ryan Moore at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship was, he's not the guy I'm talking about right now.

The guy I'm talking about is Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke. The jolly Ulsterman holed a 40-footer for birdie on the 72nd hole to win the Asian Open in Shanghai, his first victory in five years on the European Tour.

Or, more significantly -- and this is where the tears come into the picture -- his first win since the loss of his wife, Heather, who passed away on Aug. 13, 2006, after a long battle with breast cancer. Her death came the day before Clarke's 38th birthday.

I've had the privilege of spending the majority of my 28 years of life in and around professional golf. It's a family thing. From attending countless events, dozens of them majors, there are five "these-guys-really-are-people-like-you-and-me-moments" that vividly stick out in my mind. They're the only times I've seriously gotten choked up.

With that, here is my top five "man-I'm-glad-I-was-able-to-witness-that" moments in chronological order:

1. Davis Love III wins the 1997 PGA Championship at Winged Foot
I stood behind the 18th green late that Sunday afternoon and watched as the rain that hammered the Westchester County area throughout the day subsided and gave way to a rainbow as Love put the finishing touches on his only major win to date. The rainbow was symbolic of Love's late father, Davis Jr., a PGA Professional who lost his life in a plane crash in 1988 and was responsible for introducing his son to the game. The irony of the rainbow coinciding with his most shining moment as a golfer wasn't lost on Love, or the thousands that packed in around the green.

2. Stuart Appleby's pre-tournament interview at the 1998 PGA Championship at Sahalee just outside Seattle
I'm getting chills thinking back to that press conference as I write this. Appleby was at Sahalee just weeks removed from the tragic death of his wife, Renay. Renay was killed in a freak accident outside a train station in London, where she was crushed by a taxi cab shortly after Stuart missed the cut at the Open Championship.

Appleby has always been a strapping figure on TOUR and his galleries have always featured more than a few women who are easy on the eyes. In the three weeks that passed from the time I saw him at Royal Birkdale just before Renay's death to that press conference at Sahalee, the man looked as if he'd aged 20 years. His clean-cut, clean-shaven look had been replaced with a scruffy beard and a set of eyes that wore the kind of pain no one should ever have to know.

Nevertheless, Appleby encouraged the media in attendance to ask whatever they needed to ask, assuring us all he'd answer anything. As I recall, there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

3. Paul Azinger's win at the 2000 Sony Open in Hawaii
Zinger was basically robbed of his prime when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma shortly after winning the 1993 PGA Championship.

Then, there he was seven years later, having come full circle. He beat cancer and a world-class field. Making the win even more special was the fact that it came just months after the death of one of Zinger's dearest friends, Payne Stewart.

4. Tiger Woods' win at Royal Liverpool in the 2006 Open Championship
Most people think Tiger is a robot. With the destruction he causes on TOUR, who am I to argue? Tiger has never been shy about showing emotion on the course -- usually in the form of a fist-pump, or, an untimely profanity near a microphone that happens to make its way on live television.

But, if you ever doubted that Tiger truly was a "person," all you needed to see was his reaction to winning the '06 Open, his first major championship triumph after the death of his father earlier that year.

Whether he surpasses Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 professional majors or not, will anyone forget Tiger burying his face into Stevie Williams' shoulder after putting the finishes touches on his win and bawling like a baby? A special, special moment.

5. Finally, the guy that started this whole column -- Darren Clarke's return at the 2006 Ryder Cup
The scene was the K Club in Ireland. There was plenty of speculation about whether or not Clarke would even want to play the Ryder Cup a little more than a month after losing his wife. In the end, he made himself available and European captain Ian Woosnam used him as a no-brainer captain's selection.

I remember sitting in the media center as Clarke made his way to the tee for his first match that first morning of competition. The roars were deafening. And, the beautiful thing about the game of golf and its gentlemanly qualities is the fact that the American team -- which suffered the most lopsided loss in its history -- was just as happy to see Clarke back on the links as the European team.

Clarke -- like the rest of his squad -- was outstanding throughout the week. Irish eyes weren't the only ones smiling for him as he hoisted the coveted Ryder Cup that Sunday afternoon.

It's great to see Clarke a winner again. Hopefully captain Nick Faldo took notice. Who wouldn't want to see Clarke at Valhalla in September for another Ryder Cup?

My only request would be that this time he helps the U.S. team celebrate a win for a change.