Clarke: I need two wins for Ryder Cup

Golf

Thursday, May 15, 2008

By Peter Hutcheon

Darren Clarke reckons he has to win at least twice more this year if he is to make it onto the Ryder Cup team.

And if he had his choice of tournaments he would probably take the first of them the Irish Open which gets underway at Adare Manor today and the Open at Royal Birkdale in July.

That's the double Padraig Harrington managed last year.

Although right now Clarke would take anything that gets him to Kentucky for September's match with the Americans

He's even given up the chance of qualifying for next month's US Open in order to play as many European tournaments as possible, to help make that ambition a reality.

"My whole schedule in based around Europe to get myself back up the ladder again, to start climbing the world rankings, which I've done," he said.

"I'm going to Wales (rather than US Open qualifying) which gives me four tournaments in a row and I'm doing everything I can to make the Ryder Cup team.

"It's all worked out as I had hoped so far."

There is, perhaps, too much emphasis placed on the bi-annual Ryder Cup, particularly in a year in which the competition is due to be played.

But when a win in any tournament has such a dramatic effect on a player's standing, it's inevitable that it is at the forefront of so many player's minds, Clarke's included.

An Irish Open, though, is a major prize in the eyes of any of the home-grown contingent and certainly Clarke should have had at least one of these wrapped up by now.

He is, though, delighted to be part of the group of recent Irish winners which makes this week such a compelling one in Co Limerick.

"I don't think we've ever had three Irish winners in a row and it's fantastic for Irish golf," he said.

"Graeme (McDowell's) win in Korea kicked it all off and Damian (McGrane) and Peter (Lawrie) and myself to a certain degree and I think that seeing guys win helps the other guys coming along.

"I'm sure you are going to have couple of Irish guys challenging this week to try and keep that run going."

Even though he was languishing well outside the world's top 200, Clarke says he always knew he would be able to fight his way back.

"I kept telling people that I was playing okay, even when I was missing cuts," he said.

"I just persevered and kept going and I think towards the end of last year in South Africa where I finished third I knew that was a big step in the right direction.

"I knew then everything I was working on was right."