Clarke is Masters specialist

Darren Clarke goes into the British Masters tomorrow knowing he is the real course specialist at the Marriott Forest of Arden.

He captured two of his three English Opens on the Midlands venue and, not having won since last June, the Irishman is keen to head across the Atlantic to the US Open with another victory.

“If there is one course I would willingly roll up, pop under my arm and transplant where I am playing around the globe, this would be it,” said Clarke.

“I have so many happy memories. It is a true test of golf, not just a few aspects of the game, and that’s how I like my courses.”

Clarke is one of seven members of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team last September chasing the £250,000 (€348,600) first prize, the others being fellow Irishman Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie, Thomas Bjorn, Pierre Fulke, Phillip Price and Lee Westwood.