Bad timing sees Clarke lose out in World Cup

DARREN Clarke has admitted defeat in his bid to join Padraig Harrington as Ireland’s representatives in the World Cup in Seville on November 18-21.

Clarke and his manager Chubby Chandler could not reschedule a contractual engagement to Barclays Capital, the Irishman’s chief sponsor, in Japan on the week preceding the World Cup.

So Harrington will be partnered by Paul McGinley, as it has been since 1997 when the pair were crowned champions at Kiawah Island.