Clarke ready to come in from the cold

British Masters preview: Just like many of Europe's elite, Darren Clarke has been an alien face in terms of competitive appearances on the PGA European Tour this year. So far, the records book will tell you he has played three times; but two of those were in dual-counting events in America, and the other time was in South Africa.

Instead, with good reason, the US Tour has been his place of habitat. Until now, that is.

If Clarke were to chose a place from which to effectively kick-start his European Tour season, then the Forest of Arden outside Birmingham - where the €2.5 million Dunlop British Masters takes place - is probably better than anywhere to come in from the cold. This is the scene of two of Clarke's 10 European titles (both the now defunct English Open), although he's at a loss to understand just why it is he should play so well.

"I wish I knew, otherwise I'd take it elsewhere. I just enjoy the course, it sets up well for me."

Certainly, his form in America would indicate he is close to winning somewhere soon. The 36-year-old had five top-10s in eight appearances on the US Tour, his closest encounter coming in the MCI Classic at Hilton Head where he finished runner-up to Peter Lonard. The memory of an ugly pulled short-iron approach to the 72nd hole has been banished.

"I knew straight away what was wrong . . . I was trying to release the ball down the line a bit more and, because of that, I was using my hands a bit too much. It worked well the first two rounds, but not the last two when it was under pressure," recalled Clarke.

How does he judge his US campaign, to date?

"Very good. I've had four chances to win tournaments this year. I had a blip in Hilton Head where I had a great opportunity to win, and obviously didn't do that . . . overall, I'm very pleased with the way I am playing."

Almost by a country mile, Clarke is the star turn in the British Masters. There are five of the top-50 ranked players in the official world rankings competing - Clarke, Thomas Bjorn, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter - and, having taken a two-week break since his last tournament in Houston, arrived here on Monday morning to iron out any wrinkles.

"I've worked on a few things but I'm playing okay. I'm quite happy with the way I am playing and just have to continue putting myself into a position to win tournaments and hopefully I will start winning soon.

"This is an important run for me. This week, the Irish Open next week, then the PGA (at Wentworth). Three big tournaments. Although I've won around this course, I haven't won this tournament and I'd like to do that.

"The Irish Open is another one where I am usually out first or second on the Saturday morning so I would like to beat that this year, and Wentworth is one we all want to win."

Any reason for not yet winning the Irish Open?

"G-U-I-N-N-E-S-S," quipped Clarke, spelling out each letter individually, "is probably the problem. Either too much of it, or the temptation that it is there . . . I have tried to be very sensible the last few years and it still hasn't got me anywhere."

For now, though, the focus is on the British Masters and the familiarity of this set-up with those on the US Tour should be a help and not a hindrance.

"The rough is probably a little more consistently thicker over in America, but there really isn't an awful lot of difference in set-up. The set-ups in Europe are getting better and better all the time," said Clarke, whose last European Tour was actually the NEC Invitational (a world golf championship event) in Tucson in August of 2003. His last success on European soil was the English Open in 2002 which, coincidentally, was played here.

Clarke is one of eight Irish players in the field, along with McDowell, Paul McGinley, Peter Lawrie, David Higgins, Gary Murphy, Damien McGrane and Rory McIlroy. Of the eight, only McIlroy - as an amateur - can't challenge for the €417,753 top prize.