TOUR NEWS: YOU'VE GOT to wonder if or when Darren Clarke's prolonged run of bad luck will end. How many black cats have crossed his path? When did he wander under a ladder? Did he crack a mirror? Someone, really, should give him a horseshoe.
Yesterday, the British Open champion – who hasn’t made a cut on tour this season – was forced to withdraw from the upcoming US Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco on medical advice after suffering a recurrence of a groin strain injury.
Clarke, who won’t appear again on tour until next month’s Irish Open at Royal Portrush, said: “I am extremely disappointed as Open champion that I will not be able to play the US Open. I have to make sure I am 100 per cent ready for Royal Lytham and I have been advised not to play for a month.”
It is hoped the enforced lay-off, combining rest with treatment, will allow Clarke to resume tournament play at the Irish Open on June 28th-July 1st. “I’ve not been able to get through the ball properly and I don’t want to take any chance,” added the 43-year-old Ulsterman, ranked 73rd in the world, who missed his fourth cut of the season at the BMW PGA in Wentworth.
Clarke earned a five-year exemption into the US Open following his breakthrough Major win in the Open at Sandwich last year. The Northern Irishman last played in the US Open at Bethpage in 2009 when he missed the cut. His best finish in the Major came in 1999 at Pinehurst when he finished in tied 10th.
The recurrence of the groin strain – which first surfaced prior to last month’s US Masters in Augusta – has forced Clarke to withdraw from next week’s Scandinavian Masters as well as the US Open.
Peter Lawrie, who jumped from 212th up to 143rd in the latest world rankings on the back of his fourth-place finish at Wentworth, heads a seven-strong contingent to this week’s tour stop in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor. The Dubliner is joined by Michael Hoey, Paul McGinley, Shane Lowry, Damien McGrane, Gareth Maybin and Simon Thornton.
For David Higgins, his tied-10th finish at Wentworth had the immediate effect of moving him up 793 places in the rankings to 651st.
His pay day also put him straight into 113th position on the European Tour order of merit and the Kerryman is likely to get a number of tour invites now in his efforts to regain his card.
Rory McIlroy, after back-to-back missed cuts, returns stateside for the Memorial tournament – and a meeting and some likely wise words from Jack Nicklaus – as he seeks to regain form ahead of the US Open which takes place in little over a fortnight’s time. McIlroy has also added next week’s St Jude Classic to his schedule.
While McIlroy seeks to get some form ahead of defending his US Open title, Luke Donald – the impressive winner at Wentworth – has his sights set on winning a breakthrough Major. “I certainly think I have the ability,” observed Donald, who returned to the world number one spot. “It’s (all about) putting four rounds together but I would love to win more than one Major.” He added: “Winning one Major would satisfy some of my critics. But, personally, the goal is to win more than one. I feel like I have that ability and hopefully it will happen.”
Meanwhile, Paul Cutler, who was unbeaten in assisting Britain and Ireland to Walker Cup success last year before turning professional, will be chasing a maiden win on the EuroPro Tour when the Ulster Bank Open takes place at Galgorm Castle, Co Antrim, starting tomorrow.
Cutler came through the qualifying school to earn a card. “It’s about getting a taster for what it is like at the next level, you cannot put a value on it,” said Cutler of playing on the development tour. “It is about learning the trade and learning as you go. Obviously, my ultimate goal is to get onto the European Tour. But getting to play at an event like this will make me even hungrier for it and a win at Galgrom would put that extra fire in my belly.”
Interestingly, among those competing in the event at Galgorm Castle is West Ham United footballer Gary O’Neil, a scratch player who has been invited to experience life on tour in his off-season. O’Neil has aspirations to pursue a professional career once his footballing days are over.
