Clarke optimistic ahead of milestone 50th major

DARREN CLARKE will clock up a major milestone tomorrow when he celebrates his 41st birthday.

What he didn’t know yesterday is that this week’s US PGA Championship will be his 50th appearance in a major.

Tied for second behind Justin Leonard at Troon in 1997, he is still waiting for another chance to win a “big one” and time would appear to be running out for the Ulster man, who needed an invitation to participate in what will be his 11th US PGA.