Clarke has drive to follow Harrington

Darren Clarke saw Padraig Harrington make the move he needed for the Ryder Cup and is hoping to do the same when he returns to action in tomorrow's Smurfit Kappa European Open at the K-Club.

But, as so often in the past two difficult years for the Ulsterman, he is making no predictions.

"I have no idea how I am going to play from week to week," said Clarke, who is down in 28th place in the race after taking considerable time away from golf because of his wife Heather's cancer battle.

"A totally honest answer - I have no idea," replied the 37-year-old when pressed on how he might fare. "Of course I am capable (of winning), but I don't know the answer."

Clarke has been "making changes" to his game with television commentator and former tour player Ewen Murray.

"Having not played a lot of competitive golf I'm not as sharp as I should be," he said. "I've been working on things since the Irish Open and it certainly feels okay. It's just a question of doing it on the course.

"I've been changing my 'takeaway' a little bit. I've been too 'handsy' for a couple of years and I am trying to take my hands out of it. My putting has been average as well."

Harrington has finished second on both sides of the Atlantic the last two weeks, and Clarke said: "It's fantastic to see Padraig playing well again. We need Padraig - the team needs Padraig.

"I'd love to play. I want to be part of the team. But I haven't looked to see where I am on any list. I haven't had that many opportunities to play golf and it's been tough for me. I need to play well in the next three weeks."

This week's tournament is not on the Ryder Cup course, but on the adjoining Smurfit lay-out. And Clarke will not therefore be returning to the course where he shot a European tour record-equalling 60 seven years ago.

Harrington is now sixth in the standings - not secure yet, but looking a lot better than he did before his fifth-place finish in the US Open last month.

"I've achieved what I've wanted to achieve the last couple of weeks," said the Dubliner. "Now it's back to focusing on the sole job of winning tournaments.

"I'm quite confident I'm going to make the team from where I'm at. I never wanted to be in the position of having to be picked. I think unfortunately there's going to be maybe four or five good players looking for those two spots."

Clarke is quite possibly among them, and he conceded: "That means some good players are going to be disappointed.

"I certainly felt that I was under pressure because I just kept coming close to making things easy for myself. The last thing you want is to go into the BMW (the last counting event) having to win 70,000 points."