Masters in mind as Clarke in for long haul
Clarke is contesting the back-to-back Australian Open beginning today at Royal Sydney and next week’s South African Open at Leopard Creek with the goal of breaking back inside the top 50 on the world rankings.
He arrived in Sydney for a first visit in 12 years lying 66th on the rankings and eager to achieve his Augusta goal.
The European Tour’s Ian Barker confirmed both the Australian Open and South African Open carry a minimum first place points of 32 as they are the designated flagship events of the respective Tours. The normal minimums for these Tours are 16 and 14 respectively.
Clarke contested just one major this past season but after a double victory winning year, the 40-year-old has managed to wrap up a place in three of the four majors for 2009, with the exception of Augusta.
“There’s no doubt it hurt my Ryder Cup chances this year only contesting one of the four majors but that’s already changed for next year as I am exempt into the US Open, the Open Championship and if I stay inside the top 100 on the rankings, then I’m into the US PGA Championship,” he said.
“As we stand at the minute I am into three of them and it’s the goal of getting myself back to Augusta and into the US Masters that has brought me out to Australia and also next week’s South African Open.
“This is definitely the farthest I have ever travelled with that specific goal in mind but it’s been one of my goals all year to get back into the top 50 and I’m just on the outskirts of managing that.
“So that’s why I’ve come all this way, along with travelling to South Africa. I know a win would take care of getting back into the top 50 but I just want to play well and get myself back in there in the first place. But as for the Australian Open, it’s a good field and Royal Sydney is a fantastic course.”
Clarke is returning to competition for a first time in a fortnight after having contested the Singapore Open and he’s brought with him to Sydney a belly putter and standard size putter. He alternated between the two on the Royal Sydney practice green ahead of the Wednesday Pro-Am.
“I’ve been messing about with the belly putter more as a practice aid than anything else,” said Clarke.
“It helps me release the club head a little better than I have been doing with the conventional size putter and at the moment it feels okay. But other than that I’ve also hosted a few corporate days and with the weather being so bad, I didn’t practice there for about 10 days after getting back from Singapore. I’m just trying to get things organised for Christmas as I don’t get home until December 23 and that’s not much time.”
Organisers have drawn Clarke with Australia’s Robert Allenby and visiting American John Daly. Both Allenby and Daly have joined the 2009 Race to Dubai Tour with Daly confirming he’s been granted an invite to compete in January’s Abu Dhabi Championship and Qatar Masters.
Daly is contesting his third event in succession in Australia but admitted he’s spent most of his time in his hotel room watching some of the 150 DVD movies he brought with him.
“I just watch movies and I’ve brought a bunch out with me, about 150, although I am down to my last five,” he said. “But you’ve also got McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, all the good stuff we have at home, so that’s good.”
Judging by past Australian Opens, Clarke is certain to be supported by Sydney’s large Irish community, as was the case when Paul McGinley and McIlroy competed in recent years.
But Clarke’s concern was also finding a decent pint of Guinness.
“It’s going to be great to have the Irish out here in Australia supporting me as I also need directions where to find the best pint of Guinness,” he laughed.
“There are a lot of Irish down here and I’ve had a lot of emails from them saying how much they are looking forward to me coming and playing.
“Hopefully, I can play well and give them something to shout about.”
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