Hazeltine Diary

Clarke reaches more milestones

DARREN CLARKE ticks some more boxes in his career and personally over the next few days. Today, he’ll tee up in his 50th major – “Really? I’ve been playing out here for a long time” – and, tomorrow, he will celebrate his 41st birthday.

The box he’d really like to tick, though, would be to use his special invite to contend in a championship that has proven frustrating to the Ulsterman down the years.

Despite his supreme ball-striking, Clarke has managed only one top-10 finish (in 2000) in his 10 previous appearances in the USPGA. He missed the cut on seven occasions.

Still, a decent performance in last week’s Bridgestone has Clarke looking on the glass as half-full rather than half-empty.

“I feel as though I’m working in the right direction and, who knows, I might just peak for next week (defence of the KLM Open),” said Clarke, who teamed up with Lee Westwood to take the money off Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in a practice round. Clarke wasn’t divulging the amount claimed.

“Let’s just say it’s enough for a nice dinner,” he said.

Wanamaker’s royal service

RODMAN WANAMAKER did more than just donate the trophy that bears his name – a 27lb piece of silver – which the USPGA champion raises on the 18th green each year. Wanamaker also funded early expeditions to the North Pole; was a pioneer in aeronautics, having built the first multi-engine plane to fly across the Atlantic, and also donated a jewelled processional cross that is used during coronations, weddings and funeral marches for the British royal family.

Whistling Straits is next venue

FUTURE USPGA venues 2010 – Whistling Straits, Wisconsin

2011 – Atlanta Athletic Club, Georgia

2012 – Kiawah Island, South Carolina

2013 – Oak Hill, Rochester, New York

By the numbers

98– the number of players ranked in the top-100 in the official world rankings competing in the season's final major. Sweden's Robert Karlsson and South Africa's Trevor Immelman are missing through injury. Paul Casey, nursing a rib injury, is scheduled to make a decision on his fitness before today's first round.

1– the number of years since a European winner.

78– the number of years since a European winner (Tommy Armour, 1930) before Pádraig Harrington's win last year.

5– the record number of PGA titles, held by Walter Hagen. Tiger Woods (4) and Vijay Singh (2) are the only multiple winners competing in this year's championship.