Clarke needs to make an impression

It is becoming increasingly difficult not to notice Darren Clarke - but the worry for the Irishman is that no-one will remember him.

He raised a few conservative eyebrows at the Masters earlier this year by donning garish red and white striped trousers for his first round.

Earlier in his career, he cut a larger than life figure strolling the fairways with a huge cigar hanging out of his mouth, while tearing up the road off it in a Ferrari with the private plate DC 60 in honour of his two lowest-ever professional rounds.

But Clarke knows more than most that in a sport with a history as long as golf’s, the characters fade away in time and only the champions remain.

And the 35-year-old is still searching for that first major to write his name into the record books.

Ideally he would like to do it at the British Open, where he has come so close to winning twice in the past with a joint second-place at Troon in 1997 and a six-way tie for third at Lytham St Annes four years later.

On both occasions he lost to men who were winning their first – and so far - only major titles.

In 1997 Justin Leonard came from five shots behind on the final day to shoot a round of 65 while Clarke’s 71 left him three adrift of the winner.

In 2001 he was four shots back, alongside such luminaries as Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam, after his last day one-under-par round of 70 left him trailing David Duval, whose carded a 67.

Since then Clarke’s game and the man himself have undergone huge changes. He has committed himself to playing more tournaments in America and the increased competition has paid off.

His world ranking has risen and he is now firmly ensconced in the top 20.

Away from the course his life has taken an almost unrecognisable metamorphosis, prompted by disappointment in the 2003 Masters.

Last year Clarke led by three at Augusta after an opening 66 but then wilted when bad weather forced him to play more than the usual 18 holes in a day and ultimately finished 28th.

As a result the Dungannon-born professional went on a much-publicised fitness drive which has seen him lose two-and-a-half stone with help from former Great Britain rugby league fullback Steve Hampson.

And not having the same bulk has forced some swing adjustments with coach Butch Harmon, former guru to world number one and eight-time major winner Tiger Woods, but it is paying dividends.

“I want to get in better shape and give myself a better chance to play well on a regular basis. I am in the gym six days a week, working out two hours a day,” said Clarke.

“I am pretty much into it now and I want to keep getting better and stronger. There is a long way to go yet.”

However, what he has yet to crack is the consistency not only over 72 holes but over the course of a season to be able to challenge on a regular basis.

He has had three third places this season but in 16 events up to the US Open there have been seven missed cuts.

This year’s Masters was a case in point. A first round 70 put him two under par and joint fourth but he followed that with a 79 to crash out on the second day.

He then played his next four tournaments, one in America and three in Europe - two crucially on British soil – in a combined 42 under par and finished with a third, fourth and fifth place-finishes on the European Tour.

Having travelled back across the Atlantic to prepare for the US Open he missed the cut for the Buick Classic while a 36-hole total of seven over ended his participation in the year’s second major at Shinnecock Hills.

Maybe the numerous air miles are having an effect but Clarke himself knows he has to tighten up his game.

“My good is good, but my bad is bad,” he said. “I am working hard at putting it right.

“Golfers know they will endure spells like these, but they don’t come any easier to take and now I’ve missed the cut in the first two majors of the season. Still, I’ll settle for missing three as long as I win the fourth.”

“Now I will be practising my short game and experimenting with different kinds of putters and styles. I may even try cack-handed or the belly putter.

“The European Open (on Irish soil at the K Club in Co Kildare) and the Scottish Open (at Loch Lomond) will give me the opportunity to try to get something in place before the (British) Open.

“Fortunately my game isn’t in bad shape and I’m in good shape so I feel it’s only a matter of time before things start going my way.”