Wood given extra drive by Clarke heroics

IF success is contagious, Chris Wood could be set to catch some given the company he keeps.

The 24-year-old Bristolian, a member of Chubby Chandler’s International Sports Management stable, returned yesterday to the scene of his Irish Open near miss last year and played a practice round with British Open champion Darren Clarke.

It is an arrangement Wood has appreciated since his first meeting with Clarke, just before the Englishman turned pro and joined ISM in 2008, and the Irishman’s recent success at Royal St George’s makes the experience even more instructive.

“He’s good with me and we always try and get a few holes in,” Wood said of Clarke, “so it’s great for me to be able to have that, being part of ISM with Chubby, and obviously Lee (Westwood’s) there as well. Having a couple of guys there with Lee and Darren’s experience is invaluable, being able to play a few holes with them every now and again.

“Clarky, when I was an amateur I played with him at Wentworth with Chubby and I asked ‘how do you spend your weeks off?’ and he said ‘the first few days, I really let myself go and enjoy myself but the rest of the time I work bloody hard’.

“I’m still not quite there with the balance yet, still need to find that balance, but I’m getting there.”

Wood has been almost there in terms of a maiden European Tour title a few times in the past three years. He followed up his tie for fifth behind Pádraig Harrington in the British Open at Birkdale as an amateur with a tie for third as a pro the next year at Turnberry. That helped him to the Rookie of the Year award in 2009.

Wood was well in contention to win at Killarney when he went into the last round in the final group alongside eventual winner Ross Fisher and although the final round is now a bit of a blur, he was heartened by the finish and his return this week.

“I’m sure there’ll be more big crowds this week so it would be nice to put myself in the mix again, coming down the last and taking out the Irish boys.”

That last sentiment was said with a chuckle but Wood really would be laughing if he turned round a season that he described as so far being frustrating, despite two runner-up finishes, including the Iberdrola Open, won by Clarke in May.

“I keep getting glimpses of form,” Wood said.

“I know it’s not too far away but I’ve just got to try and be patient because it’s not been happening at all for me really.”