Darren Clarke admits that he would gladly swap the million-dollar winner's cheque on offer at Mount Juliet this week for Ryder Cup victory at the Belfry.

The big Dungannon man knows what it is like to pocket $1,000,000 after beating Tiger Woods by 4 and 3 in the Accenture World Matchplay final in California in February 2000.

But Clarke would still prefer to notch up his second Ryder Cup win after feeling the elation of victory on his debut under skipper Seve Ballesteros in 1997.

"If I had to choose I between the American Express and the Ryder Cup I would probably go for being a part of the winning Ryder Cup team," said Clarke.

"Winning the Ryder Cup at Valderrama in 19976, that's one of the biggest highs that I felt so I would probably say that I go for the winning Ryder Cup team. There will be more chances for winning world golf Championship events that Ryder Cups."

Clarke also loves the team spirit that the Ryder Cup and he feels that atmosphere at the Belfry adds a special something.

"The team element is great and we are all pulling for each other as opposed to trying to beat each other. We don't get a chance to play team golf that often and it brings a different mentality to it. We all know each other's game so well that we all tend to pull it together and try to help each other the way we can."

Clarke has partnered ISM stablemate Lee Westwood and Scot Colin Montgomerie in previous Ryder Cups but he hinted that he may have a new partner for the clash next week

He said: "I know who my partner may be but I can't tell you. I've had some chats with Sam (Torrance) and there are a few ideas but they are not set in stone. We'll see what happens in the practice rounds."

As for the American Express Championship, the 34 year old feels that Mount Juliet's four par three holes hold the key to victory.

Explained Clarke: "The par threes are going to be hugely important this week. They're all tough and when you start tucking the pins away, if you miss on the wrong side of the green and have very little to work with and you are going to struggle to get up and down.

"So I think the par threes are going to be tough and if you can play them well then I think you will have a chance."

Despite some indifferent form this season, Clarke says that he is looking forward to the challenge this week.

"It's a fantastic feeling this week and one of the best fields we've ever had. The course is in fantastic condition. They have worked really hard but it's been a long time since I've been back here.

"The first two years I was attached here as the touring professional but I haven't been back here since 1995 and they have made huge improvements to the course. The greens are fantastic, really good."

Tiger Woods reckons that the course is not the most difficult of Jack Nicklaus's creations and Clarke agrees that there could be a birdie feast for the top putters.

"They have tightened the fairways by changing the grass because they couldn't let the rough grow in. But certainly there are a lot of opportunities to make birdies and if it comes down to it then it's always the guy who holes the most putts and gets up and down.

"With the greens as good as they are there will be guys making putts from between 10 and 12 feet. So I have been working hard on my putting green at home and putting on my ruler and doing different things that I have to get a little better at and it certainly feels a lot better."

Clarke holed everything in his win over Woods at Carlsbad in 2000 but he feels that he has failed to build on that success over the past two and a half years.

"I don't know if I have improved but I've gotten a little bit older and allegedly a little bit wiser. I've become a little more consistent but I still haven't been able to turn that into the results that I want.

"A couple of years ago I would have hoped that that particular win would have been a springboard onto bigger and better things. And unfortunately that hasn't happened."

As for Ryder Cup nerves, Clarke admits that he was so nervous in 1997 that he teed the ball up an inch and a half higher to avoid "killing people on the left hand side of the tee."

"Everyone will be nervous. Anybody who says otherwise isn't telling the truth. The Americans aren't as excited after September 11. But I think that when everybody gets there and everybody starts there will be a pretty competitive edge.

"When Curtis Strange has them in the team room and the first team talks take place I think they will be every bit as excited as we are.

"But next week is totally different. This is another big tournament and it's one we want to try and win. After the Majors it's the World Golf Championships and this one, obviously being strokeplay is completely different. This is another individual week and next week it's an all-different game."

The big man goes into action alongside world number two Phil Mickelson at 10 o'clock this morning - an early look at some possible Ryder Cup opposition.
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© Brian Keogh 2003

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