Darren Clarke will waste little time in getting the new European Tour season off and running after committing to the first counting event, the Omega Hong Kong Open next month.
The 35-year-old, who finished runner-up to Ernie Els in the 2003 Order of Merit, will join the likes of fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington, reigning Irish Open winner Michael Campbell and six-time major winner Nick Faldo.
The event is co-sanctioned with the Asian PGA Tour and will be held at The Hong Kong Golf Club from December 4th-7th, with a total prize fund of $700,000.
"Darren Clarke is a tremendous draw for the Omega Hong Kong Open," said Kevin Rollenhagen, Omega's Vice-President, Hong Kong and China. "Having already announced Padraig Harrington, Nick Faldo and Michael Campbell we can look forward to watching one of the strongest ever fields at Hong Kong's national open."
The main highlight of Clarke's season came with victory in the World Golf Championships - NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Ohio. Having won the WGC - Accenture Match Play in 2000, the victory saw the Irishman become the only player, apart from world number one Tiger Woods, to have won more than one WGC event.