Clarke hopes to end European title bogey at Valderrama

DARREN CLARKE is under pressure going into the Volvo Masters at Valderrama today, knowing he is just this event away from failing to win on the European Tour for the first time since 1997.

It’s a strange kind of statistic on two counts: first because 1997 was actually the year in which he first played in the Ryder Cup and helped Europe, under the captaincy of Seve Ballesteros, to pull off a thrilling victory here at Valderrama.

Second, Clarke has played some beautiful golf through 2004 and has finished seven times in the top five without actually making the winner’s rostrum.