Golf: Consistent Clarke wants more victories

Darren Clarke is hoping to turn consistency into potency in the South African Open.

Around this time last year the 32-year-old defeated Tiger Woods in the Andersen Consulting World Matchplay title and pocketed $1m.

But he finished only second on the European money list, losing out to friend and rival Lee Westwood who won six times on the Tour in 2000.

"I want to try and improve as everybody does at the start of the year. I want to win more tournaments," said Clarke who added just the English Open title to his triumph over Woods in California.

"I didn't win as many last year as I would have liked to and I'd like to win on a more regular basis. I only won one tournament after the Andersen Consulting which was a bit disappointing but the consistency was very good, a lot of top 10s.

"My putting was average last year and I plan to spend more time on my short game than I have done in the past because I waste too many shots around the greens. I got pretty hard on myself sometimes, trying too hard to make things happen whereas this year I would like to be more relaxed on the golf course."

Clarke is even considering a switch to the US Tour to improve his game adding: "If you don't try these things you don't know how good you are.

"Playing at that standard every week, where it is a little bit higher over there, would be beneficial but there are other things to be decided.

"We have a young family and you have to do it before they start school and things like that. I don't mind it over there and certainly enjoy it whenever I go over there.

"The conditions are good and the tournaments are great, it's where the majority of the world's best players are playing and to test yourself you have to compete against the best all the time.

"There is more money but it's about competing against the best and trying to win tournaments".