Clarke hell bent on ironing out errors

DARREN CLARKE is determined to iron out a string of costly recent errors and build on a solid start to the year at this week’s Maybank Malaysian Open.

Clarke claimed a second top 10 finish of 2010 last time out in India, but the 41-year-old’s title challenge was again hampered by a disappointing finish to his final round – a worrying trait which also scuppered an otherwise solid week in Dubai.

But despite inclement weather restricting his practice during a two-week break after returning from eighth place in New Delhi, Clarke remains upbeat ahead of tomorrow’s first round at the newly refurbished Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

“I played okay in India but messed up on Sunday and bogeyed 14, 15 and 17 and then eagled the last. I played really well and threw away a good chance to get right in there, but played pretty well. I feel I am pretty close to where I want to be,” said Clarke.

“I am not concerned by my lack of practice, I know what I am doing. But I need to start to eliminate those errors. I am making too many of those at the end of the round when I am getting myself in good positions and then making too many mistakes. I have done that in every tournament this year and I need to eliminate those and finish more of them off.”

Clarke only posted three top 10s in 2009 after winning twice the previous year to agonisingly miss out on the season-ending Dubai World Championship by just one place.

“I have played really well and hit the ball the way I wanted for the most part in every tournament I have played this year,” added the world number 108.

“I had a bad finish in Dubai where I finished bogey-bogey and finished 27th, but if I had finished birdie-birdie I would have finished seventh, but I am still very happy.”

Clarke is joined in the field in Kuala Lumpur by two-time Malaysian Open winner Thongchai Jaidee with the Thai ace out to convert his recent superb form into a first title of the year.

The Asian number one finished a battling third in Dubai before seeing his run at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship ended in the quarter-finals by eventual champion Ian Poulter.

The 40-year-old world number 44, who won twice on the European Tour last year, is still reaping the rewards of long hours during his off-season spent improving his putting, while he did not rest on his laurels with a full practice during last week’s break.

“I am very confident because my game has improved a lot because my putting is better,’’ he said.

“I have been training a lot on my putting at home with my coach and have changed my grip and the feeling is very comfortable and I think I have a very good chance this week.”