Clarke pulls out of Irish Open

Darren Clarke has accepted medical advice and withdrawn from this week’s Irish Open at Adare Manor.

The 38-year-old was told that that unless he rests and has further intensive treatment on a hamstring problem suffered last month playing football with his sons Tyrone and Conor he could do more damage.

After the injury Clarke missed the cut in the Spanish Open, then flew to America only to pull out of the Wachovia Championship after one round and the Players Championship last Thursday after just six holes.

The Ryder Cup star said from his Surrey home: “It is with great reluctance and an equal amount of sorrow that I have to withdraw from this week’s Irish Open.”

Scans revealed that the problem is at the top of his right hamstring and he added: “To say I’m disappointed is putting it mildly.

“I so wanted to compete for Ireland’s national title, so this is another blow on top of many recent frustrations.

“If I had played this week, I would have risked further damage and probably turned it into a long-term injury.

“Now I have the chance of being fit to return at Wentworth next week for the BMW PGA Championship.”

“I feel gutted not to play in the Irish Open, especially after coming so close last year (he finished third after leading with nine holes to play).

“I’m really down in the dumps after so many recent setbacks, but I have to make sure I get fit as soon as I possibly can.”

Assisting with his rehabilitation will be former European Tour physio Jonathan Shrewsbury, whose clients include several Premiership football clubs and the London Irish rugby union team.

Unbeaten in last September’s Ryder Cup win – he was picked by captain Ian Woosnam only three weeks after his wife Heather lost her battle with breast cancer – Clarke has had nothing better than a 20th place finish all year, has not made a cut since early February and has seen his world ranking slump to 85th.