Clarke was close to dropping out of PGA Championship

Ian Woosnam has followed David Howell in pulling out of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth – and the organisers should be breathing a sigh of relief that Darren Clarke is still in the line-up for tomorrow’s start.

Clarke, who missed last week’s Irish Open because of a hamstring strain suffered in a football kickabout with his sons Tyrone and Conor, has had another mishap playing with them.