Clarke denies Montgomerie rift

Darren Clarke has denied that his decision not to play in the Seve Trophy in County Durham next month has anything to do with Colin Montgomerie being captain.

After an opening 73 in the US PGA championship, Clarke refuted a tabloid newspaper story that he had chosen not to play for Britain and Ireland following Montgomerie’s “wrong drop” controversy in Indonesia this year.

“The reason I am not playing is purely a scheduling issue,” said the Ulsterman, a Ryder Cup team-mate of Montgomerie.

He is out in Asia for two weeks, then will take a week off with his family before playing three more events – the dunhill links in Scotland and two in America.

“I’ve got to spend a bit of time with Heather and the kids,” he added. His wife has been battling cancer.

“There’s not a rift between me and Colin at all. I have to play in certain tournaments in the world and it’s one of those unfortunate things.”

Clarke, like Montgomerie, is on the European Tour’s tournament committee.

In May the committee said it was not happy with the way the seven-time European number one handled the incident in Jakarta, but Clarke stated: “I have my personal opinions, but the matter is over and dealt with.

“In no way is it a reflection of why I am not playing. I have no problem playing for Monty – it was discussed and it’s closed. It just keeps rearing its ugly head.”

Clarke’s stablemate and close friend Lee Westwood is also doubtful for the Seve Trophy match at The Wynyard on September 22-25. He is wrestling with his US Tour schedule and manager Andrew Chandler said a decision will be taken next week.

Ian Poulter is another not yet certain whether he will play for Britain and Ireland, while new Continental Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal could be without stars Sergio Garcia and Bernhard Langer.