Clarke given low-key pairing

Darren Clarke, who was the joint leading European player in the US Masters earlier this season, wasn't complaining in New York yesterday after being handed a low-key pairing for the opening two rounds of the $1.8 million Buick Classic, which gets under way at the Westchester Country Club today.

The 29-year-old has been included in a three-ball with American journeymen Mike Sullivan and Mark Carnevale for the first two rounds of a tournament which returns this season to its traditional slot in the US calendar a week prior to the US Open. Coincidentally, Ernie Els defends his Buick crown just a week prior to defending his major title.

Clarke and Lee Westwood, the winner of the last two events on the European circuit in Hamburg and Hanbury Manor, arrived in New York by Concorde last Sunday. They comprise a formidable European challenge that also includes Jose-Maria Olazabal and Bernhard Langer. Clarke's inclusion brings the number of Irishmen in the field to three, along with Richard Coughlan and Keith Nolan.

Coughlan's rib injury, which cast a doubt over his participation, has cleared up sufficiently to enable him to play.