Clarke seeks world hat trick

Darren Clarke tees off tomorrow in pursuit of something only Tiger Woods has achieved and something which every other golfer can currently only dream of – a full set of World Golf Championship individual titles.

Four days after watching stablemate Lee Westwood continue his remarkable return to form, Clarke hopes to turn the spotlight back on himself at the American Express championship in Atlanta.

The 35-year-old Ulsterman wants to add the trophy to the Andersen Consulting matchplay he won in California in 2000 – by memorably beating Woods in the final - and the NEC Invitational he dominated in Ohio this August.

“The putts didn’t drop last week, but the way I’ve been playing since the NEC obviously I have a chance here,” he said. “I’ve been in contention every week.”

Has he finally therefore conquered the temper he was famous for when things don’t go his way?

“Conquered is a very big word, especially for me. I think I’ve got a little better at dealing with it and if I can get better again hopefully I will have better results.”

No other European has been able to win a single World Championship event since their introduction to the golfing calendar four years ago, but 20 of them are in this week’s 72-strong field at the 7,189-yard, par 70 Capital City Club Crabapple course.

Woods is the defending champion, as he is a lot of the time when it comes to the World Championships. Including the two-man World Cup he has won seven of the 14 he has played in, earning just short of nine million dollars in the process.

Clarke could take his own personal fortune from the series through the four million mark by winning, but it looks like being a tough week ahead with some fierce rough and greens that are not only lightning fast, but also rock hard.

Now over £535,000 behind Ernie Els at the top of the European Order of Merit - Els was second on Sunday whereas he slipped to fourth – Clarke is also thinking about the American money list as the official season enters its last few weeks.

He is in a great position to qualify for their Tour Championship in Houston in November – only the top 30 leading earners make it – and if he does so he will pull out of the Britain and Ireland side for the Seve Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at El Saler in Spain. That is the same week.

Westwood, from the horror of 257th in the world not that long ago, now leads the race for places in another team event with a somewhat higher profile to it - the Ryder Cup, of course – and can virtually make certain of his place with another strong showing this week.

Five days ago he did not even know he would be in the States, so he is understandably enjoying being back amongst golf’s elite.

“A lot of the guys have said ‘congratulations’ and ‘great to see you playing well again’ this week, so it’s nice,” he commented.

“They’ve been great throughout. They know what I’ve gone through and they’ve probably gone through it at some stage in their careers.

“They didn’t treat me any differently and I don’t think I’ve changed too much, although I might not have looked quite so happy and jovial on the course.

“It’s hard to do that when you don’t know where the ball is going.”

Londoner Brian Davis, who finished last week’s event with a course record 62 at St Andrews, is the first of the Europeans into action in the first round.

Colin Montgomerie tees off just behind Woods, but both Clarke and Westwood are among the late starters.