Clarke out to get the better of The Belfry

GOLF: Darren Clarke took more than a passing interest in the impressive five-stroke victory by Justin Rose in the Crowns Tournament in Japan at the weekend. For Clarke would probably have been there, defending the title, but for an unfortunate misunderstanding by the sponsors.

"It was a typically Japanese problem in that it was tied into loss of face," said the Sunningdale-based Irishman yesterday. "Unfortunately, it was only after the field was finalised that we discovered why I hadn't been invited.

"Because of reduced financial resources, the organisers decided they couldn't afford to pay me the same fee that I received last year. So it became a matter of honour. And rather than offer a smaller fee, they decided not to invite me at all.

"It was a pity. I'm sure we could have worked something out because I really enjoyed last year's event. Apart from a cheque for $225,000, I won a smashing £55,000 Lexus Soarer which I took delivery of last November. So it made a nice, early Christmas present for Heather (his wife)."

In Clarke's absence, Justin Leonard and Aaron Baddeley were in the field as Rose swept to his third tournament victory this year. The previous two were in South Africa, including the Dunhill Championship, an official European Tour event which earned him a top prize of €128,173.

Rose, who played both the regular tour and the Challenge Tour after embarking on a professional career, made impressive progress last year by finishing 33rd in the Order of Merit. And he is currently 35th with official earnings of €159,851 this season.

Having broken 70 for the first time when he was only 11, Rose's prodigious talent gained rich emphasis in the British Open of 1998 at Royal Birkdale where, 11 days before his 18th birthday, he shot a closing 69 to be tied fourth behind the winner, Mark O'Meara. It seemed the sky was the limit for this remarkably gifted player who quit amateur ranks the next day.

Early struggles on the professional tour, however, suggested that his move into paid ranks may have been premature, especially when he failed at the European Qualifying School in 1998. But the faith of his father, Ken, who acts as his coach, and the player's determination, have clearly been vindicated.

Meanwhile, many observers will feel that the season in Europe is beginning in earnest only this week with the staging of the 32nd Benson and Hedges International, starting at The Belfry on Thursday. The Irish challengers are: Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Des Smyth, Eamonn Darcy and Ronan Rafferty.

Darcy, who will be joining senior ranks in August, got in on a sponsor's invitation, while Rafferty is there through an exemption from the top-40 in the career money list.

The field, which is headed by Order of Merit holder Retief Goosen, also includes John Daly who, of course, is now a member of the European Tour. And an indication of how easy it has become to justify such status is that Daly has already played in three events without touching European soil. These were the Heineken Classic (Royal Melbourne), the WGC Accenture World Matchplay (La Costa, San Diego) and the US Masters (Augusta National).

The defending champion is the Swede, Henrik Stenson, who raised quite a few eyebrows by the quality of his play last year when he carded rounds of 66, 68, 71 and 70 for an aggregate of 275. But McGinley, who also had a first-round 66, pushed him hard before eventually sharing second place with Angel Cabrera, three strokes adrift.

Clarke has never done well at The Belfry which, by his own admission, is a big strong course which should suit him. "I can only conclude that I have never been properly prepared in previous years," he said.

"This time it is different. I have fully recovered from the knee problem which kept me out of the Irish Championship at Westport and am fully rested. I will be hoping for good things this weekend. It would certainly be nice to get a confidence-booster before I return there for the Ryder Cup in September."

A long-awaited breakthrough victory in the French Open has lifted Malcolm Mackenzie to seventh in the current Order of Merit with earnings of €356,774.