Clarke: It’s going to be very, very tough

AFTER six top-20 finishes in 19 attempts, Darren Clarke knows his way around British Open courses better than most. So when the Irishman predicts a tough week at Royal St George’s his fellow contenders better listen.

Clarke, the 1997 runner-up, completed preparations for a 20th British Open challenge yesterday with an early morning practice round alongside three reigning major champions, this week’s favourite and US Open sensation Rory McIlroy, defending champ Louis Oosthuizen and Masters winner Charl Schwartzel.

Winners all but their experience of 13 British Opens combined does not come close to the elder statesman’s total. Clarke is expecting course and conditions alike to sort the wheat from the chaff.

“It’s very, very tough,” the 42-year-old said. “To compete and contend this week, not only are you going to have to play well but you’re going to have to putt very well because everyone is going to miss greens around this golf course and especially with the breeze. So you know you’re going to have to up and down it very well and the greens are undulating to say the least so it’s going to be tough.”

Clarke took his fair share of medicine during yesterday’s practice round, although he and McIlroy did win their unofficial match with South African duo Schwartzel and Oosthuizen.

“The golf course can make you look silly if you get it wrong this week,” Clarke said. “The conditions, you know, you’re hitting driver into 11, the par-three, and you’re struggling to make the fairway at the seventh, the par-five, off the back tees so we’re just hoping that if we have this wind direction they’ll push a few of the tees up.”

As for his playing partner McIlroy, Clarke has decided enough is enough as regards praise for his compatriot: “Listen I’m not going down that sycophantic route, just calm yourself. He’s playing fantastic and taking everything in his stride as you would expect.

“I’m not going to stand here and gush about him anymore so just calm down a little.”

McIlroy described his final practice round as valuable preparation in an opposite wind to the ones he had on a two-day visit last week.

“I can’t wait to get back at it again. I’ve played three practice rounds now. I feel like I know the course as best as I can. I’m hitting the ball well. Everything’s in good shape so just looking forward to getting out there and getting competitive again.”

He will also be carrying a two-iron in his bag for the first time since the 2007 Open, when he won the silver medal as low amateur at Carnoustie.

“I put a driving iron, two-iron, instead of a five-wood just to keep it a little lower,” McIlroy said. “It’s an old one I had to get tested yesterday just to make sure it was legal. It’s fine, it’s great, hopefully it’ll be a big help to me this week.”