Clarke: new arrival will make Tiger stronger

DARREN CLARKE spoke of his delight at the recent arrival of a daughter, Sam Alexis, for Tiger and Elin Woods — and hit out at Europe’s 2008 Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo for alleging that golfers this side of the Atlantic are too friendly leading to a lack of major championships success.

Responding to suggestions that Woods won’t be the same player after his daughter’s birth, Clarke pointed out that Tiger had won two majors just after getting married to Swedish beauty Elin Nordgren in 2004 — and two more after the death of his father. He reckons Woods will want to mark his latest “life-changing experience” in the same way.

Clarke and Woods have been good friends since the American turned professional a decade ago, a bond that developed as both men shared the same coach at the time, Butch Harmon.

As someone who has made parenthood his top priority since the death of wife Heather to cancer last year, Clarke also knows how difficult it can be to juggle a golf career and family life.

But he said: “Tiger will take becoming a dad in his stride and, if anything, it will make him even stronger.”

Clarke was less kind to Faldo and compared him to Johnny Miller who made scathing comments about the US team during last year’s Ryder Cup, which were heard live by the players in their locker room. When told what Faldo said, Clarke quipped: “Has he been taking lessons from Johnny Miller?”