Clarke partners Bjorn in Madrid

DARREN CLARKE and Thomas Bjorn will be playing partners in the Madrid Masters barely a week after the row over Europe’s Ryder Cup wild cards.

Clarke is making his comeback following his wife Heather’s death, the 38-year-old named as one of Ian Woosnam’s picks after failing to qualify automatically.

Bjorn thought he should have been handed the second wild-card spot but lost out to Lee Westwood. While the Dane had no qualms over Clarke’s selection, he was furious at losing out to the Englishman, launching a stinging attack on Woosnam’s captaincy, earning him a reported £10,000 (€14,700) fine.