Clarke not bothered by drop in rankings

Malaysian Open:Darren Clarke is determined to fight his way back up the world rankings after falling out of the world's top 50 for the first time in more than a dozen years.

Clarke dropped to 51st after finishing in a tie for 20th at last week's Dubai Desert Classic.

However, having endured a difficult and emotional season in 2006, marred by the death of his wife, Heather, the Ulsterman is not too concerned with the end of his run in the top 50.

"Due to my lack of events last year, it was not important to me what was going on. Obviously now I have dropped outside the top 50 for the first time since 1994 I want to get back in there again," said the 38-year-old, who is in Kuala Lumpur for this week's Maybank Malaysian Open.

"The only way I can do that is to start playing again and competing. Hopefully, it will take care of itself.

"If I play well I will go up the rankings, and I will play whatever events I can. The reason I have gone to 51 is because I haven't played and there is nothing I can do about that.

"It's not through poor golf that I have gone down the rankings."

Nevertheless, the loss of his wife has changed Clarke's outlook and approach to the game.

"I have to be more selective where and when I play. I plan to play when my boys are at school and not play as much when they are not at school," he said. "There is a lot more planning going in to where I play. I'm trying to balance things up a lot more."

Clarke is no stranger to the Malaysian Open, having played in the tournament several times, although his last appearance was in 1999 when he missed the cut at Saujana Golf and Country Club.

"The course is not as I remember it at all," said Clarke on his return to the Palm course this week.

"The fairways are firm and narrow; the rough is an awful lot thicker than when I played here before.

"It is going to be a long week to grind out some scores."

Clarke is joined in the field by compatriots Graeme McDowell, Damien McGrane, Gary Murphy and Peter Lawrie.

And Clarke's great friend, Lee Westwood, is returning to the scene of one of his earliest successes as a professional.

Westwood claimed the third win of his career with victory here in 1997, during a golden period in which he captured numerous titles around the world.

"Obviously, I have very fond memories of this place. I represented Saujana for three or four years and won here in 1997 and lost in a play-off in 1998 so I'm very happy to be back," he said.

"I wore the Saujana patch on my arm for four years so a lot of people here still watch out for what I do and have formed a relationship, so it's nice to be back."

Malaysian Open

Venue:Palm Course, Saujana Golf and Country Club, Malaysia.

On TV:Sky Sports 2 (6.30am- 9.30am, live).

Winner's cheque:€165,895.

Length:6,971 yards Par 72

Defending champion:Charlie Wi.

Did You Know:Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee, who won in 2004 and 2005, would be only the second player in European Tour history to win the same event for their first three European Tour titles should he succeed this year, following Tom Watson (1975, 1977, 1980 British Open Championship).