Clarke a long-term doubt

Darren Clarke had the look of a man who had been kicked when he was down. For the second week running, the Ulsterman's involvement in a tournament ended prematurely as the deep-rooted hamstring injury he sustained recently in a kick-about with his children yesterday forced him to withdraw from The Players early in his first round.

And, as he fulfilled his final duties of signing autographs at Sawgrass for spectators blissfully unaware of his inner agonies, the reality of Clarke's plight dawned on him. His chances of being fit to play in next week's Irish Open at Adare Manor are extremely slim, and it's doubtful he'll make the following week's PGA Championship at Wentworth.

"I gave it a go," said Clarke, who completed six holes, at which stage he was only one-over but in so much discomfort he knew it was futile to continue. After leaving the 15th green, Clarke apologised to playing partners Sean O'Hair and Mark Wilson, wished them luck, and made his way back to the locker-room. It was a lonely journey.

Clarke had teed-up in hope rather than any great expectation. Having withdrawn from last week's Wachovia Championship after the first round, he received treatment on the injury than is more acquainted with footballers than golfers.

He'd managed only two holes of practice on Tuesday and none at all on Wednesday, and knew his prospects of finishing the tournament were slim.

"The problem is that I can't turn through the ball properly. You know, if I'd stayed out there, I would have done it more damage and I wouldn't be able to play for three or four months. I simply can't get through the ball. As well as being preventative, the decision to stop is the sensible thing to do. I've to see if I can get myself ready for next week (at Adare) but, to be honest, that's doubtful now."

In fact, medical opinion offered to Clarke on Wednesday is that he requires complete rest as the best therapy because the injury is at the top of the hamstring.

"These are very frustrating times," conceded Clarke, who picked up the injury the week before he returned to the Spanish Open last month where he missed the cut, and who has now slipped to 82nd in the world rankings.

"I've never been injured before, and I'm not used to it. The only real way for this injury to heal is to rest it and, as you know, I'm not that patient. But it seems as if that's what I have got to do."

Clarke sustained the injury when enjoying a back-garden game of football with his sons, Conor and Tyrone, little realising at the time that the hamstring strain would have such consequences.