Upbeat Irish duo McIlroy and Clarke welcome Woods’ return

IRELAND’S four golfing musketeers arrive in Akron, Ohio today ahead of Thursday’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club and for three of them at least, the week represents some new frontiers.

For Darren Clarke, today will mark his first American press conference as a major champion. It will also be Rory McIlroy’s first appearance in the United States since his US Opentriumph in June and for Pádraig Harrington, down to 66th in the world rankings following his missed cut at the Irish Open, it will be his first tournament since revealing his split from long-time coach Bob Torrance.

Luckily for all three, and the fourth member of Ireland’s golfing elite Graeme McDowell, they will all be overshadowed by the return of former world number one Tiger Woods.

The 14-time major winner returns to competitive golf this week for the first time since an Achilles tendon and knee injury suffered during the final round of the Masters in April forced his withdrawal from the Players Championship in May.

Woods has committed to both Akron and the following week’s PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, the final major of the year, and as McIlroy departed the Irish Open in Killarney on Sunday with a tie for 34th place, the US Open champion said: “It will be great for the tournament that he’s back. I know he’s in Akron and he’s committed to the PGA, as well. Any time Tiger tees it up, there’s a bit of a buzz. It is good to see him back on the golf course and hopefully he’s fit and ready and healthy and able to produce some of the golf that we have seen in the past.”

McIlroy has been itching to get back to the guaranteed warm weather and American parkland courses since his British Open challenge was blown away at Sandwich.

“It’s going to be nice,” he admitted. “I haven’t been back since the US Open, and I’m looking forward to it. Akron is one of my favourite courses we play all year and I’ve finished pretty well in that tournament the last couple of years. So I’m looking forward to getting back over there.”

McIlroy has high hopes for a quick repeat of his US Open success as he prepares for the major labelled by the PGA of America’s marketing men as “Glory’s Last Shot” and asked if another major win was a realistic target he replied: “I think it is. I feel as long as I put the work in next week and get my game ready for Atlanta, there’s no reason why I can’t have another good shot to win a major.”

For Clarke, golf’s newest major champion following his victory at Royal St George’s, it is a return to the Akron course on which he won the 2003 WGC-NEC Invitational as well as meaning a reunion with an old friend who took the time to send encouraging text messages over the Open Championship weekend.

“I’m delighted to be there,” Clarke said. “I’ll play wherever they put me, but it’s great Tiger’s coming back to play again. He’s been a very good friend for a long time.”

And while McDowell is fired up for Firestone he admitted his game was not entirely suited to the course.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to the States. Firestone is a great golf course to prepare with great practice facilities. It’s not a golf course that sets up that well for me. You have to move it off the tee and it’s a little on the long side for me in places.’’