Golf: Win-or-bust for Clarke at Augusta

Darren Clarke has signed a win-or-bust sponsorship deal that will net him £2m if he wins this week's Masters - but nothing if he comes second.

Clarke has taken a gamble by agreeing a 10-year deal with sports gear manufacturers Donnay.

Clarke has been guaranteed £2m for every Major he wins over the next 10 years - a potential, but unlikely, cash haul of £80m.

But he won't receive a penny if he finishes second or lower in every Major tournament.

The novel sponsorship idea was thought up by the Ulsterman himself, who is known on the European Tour for his love of the odd flutter.

Donnay wanted Clarke to sign a more straight-forward £1.5m deal to wear their range of clothing for five years.

But Clarke said: "It would have been easy to take the money but I thought it was better to give myself a nice big incentive.

"I feel I am coming to the best years of my career and this gives me the opportunity to make the most of them."

Donnay spokesman Mike Basso said: "Darren is basically backing himself to win at least one Major in the next 10 years and if he wins more he will be quids in."

The 32-year-old has yet to win a Major. His best performance to date came in the Open at Troon in 1997 when he was runner-up to Justin Leonard.

Clarke will face one obvious obstacle in his quest for riches this week in the shape of world number one and grand slam-chaser Tiger Woods.

After a practice round at Augusta with Thomas Bjorn and Paul Lawrie on Monday, Clarke said: "Tiger has won three in a row but he can't do it every time.

"If you don't think you can beat him there's no point being out there."