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Darren Clarke and Tiger Woods chat during a 2007 event in Dubai.

Tiger Woods didn't play in last week's British Open, but perhaps he did have a small part in deciding the outcome at Royal St. George's.

Woods sent two detailed text messages to Darren Clarke on the eve of Sunday's final round. Clarke, one of golf's most popular figures, went on to win his first major.

Clarke's manager, Chubby Chandler, said the messages "weren't just 'play well' messages either. It was a real bit of sports psychology."

The Independent newspaper reported that one of the messages "ran to hundreds of words" and outlined the techniques that Woods used to win 14 majors.

Neither Chandler nor Clarke would confirm exactly what Woods had written, but Clarke did say after his win that Tiger's messages "were very much appreciated and helped when it came to believing that I could win."

Clarke said he also received a congratulatory phone call from Woods after the final round.

On his Twitter feed, Woods wrote that he was "very happy for Darren Clarke, well deserved win."