Clarke’s game in good shape for Dunhill

DARREN CLARKE returns after a month away from the competitive arena for this week’s €4 million Dunhill Links Championship, starting over the great links of St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns on Thursday.

Clarke has been devoting as much time as he can to caring for his wife, Heather, who is battling cancer, and as a result has lacked the competitive edge so essential for success at the highest level. He is looking forward avidly to a fun week with England’s cricket captain Michael Vaughan, a 12 handicapper, as his amateur partner and Lee Westwood and manager Chubby Chandler completing this particular fourball.

Clarke’s game is in pretty good shape and he’s hopeful his practice he has been getting in at the exclusive Queenwood club near his home in Surrey will stand to him.