GOLF/WALES OPEN: Darren Clarke yesterday urged Europe's rising stars to follow his example and enjoy their home comforts instead of heading across the Atlantic.
Clarke's fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell followed Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey into the winners circle by claiming the Scandinavian Masters in Stockholm last Sunday in only his fourth European Tour event.
And although both McDowell and Casey played college golf in America, Clarke hopes the lure of the more lucrative US tour will not prove too strong for the next generation of top European players.
"It is good to see players of that quality coming through," said Clarke ahead of the £1.1 million Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open.
"It can only be good for the European Tour and hopefully those guys will stay in Europe and play most of their careers in Europe.
"A few years ago we were saying where are the next bunch of players coming from and they have all arrived on the scene pretty quick.
"I never regretted not going to America. The European Tour has been very good to me. I have been very fortunate and made a very, very good living. I had the opportunity to go to America and play full-time and it was never really an option for me. I could never see myself playing there full time.
"Hopefully these guys can follow my example because it would be good to see them playing in Europe. When the opportunity for me arose I was married with one child which would have meant major changes.
"These guys are younger and winning younger so the opportunity may present itself before they get other commitments outside golf."
Clarke has a particular interest in McDowell's career as they both have connections with the Portrush club. The 33-year-old also gave McDowell the putter which he used in Stockholm - which hit 12 single putts in his final round 67 - the day after the British Open championship, and is happy to offer the 23-year-old a helping hand.
"I've asked him for a percentage of his prize money but it hasn't been forthcoming," joked Clarke. "Any little bit of advice or help I can give him I will gladly do so.
"But I think the manner in which he won last week shows he doesn't need any. Just keep doing what he has been doing and he will be fine.
"His amateur record in America spoke for itself. You cannot win as many tournaments (nine) as he did and have the scoring average he did (better than Tiger Woods) without being a very good player. I am sure he is delighted he has had his breakthrough win so early in his career."
McDowell was also no doubt delighted to discover the free bar he put on for his friends at Rathmore Golf Club on Sunday evening only accounted for £700 of his £200,000 winnings.
"I thought they would do better than that to be honest," admitted McDowell, who will partner Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance and Phil Price in the first two rounds of the Wales Open.
"Apparently there wasn't a spare seat in the club all day long and everybody I've talked to told me how they were going through hell with me on Sunday and were glued to the television."
McDowell's stunning one-shot victory earned him a two-year tour exemption and also an invite to the lucrative NEC Invitational event in Washington in two weeks' time, but for the moment he looks like heeding Clarke's advice about staying in Europe.
"A couple of years in Europe is going to teach me a lot about myself and definitely how to take my game to the next level," added McDowell, who only turned professional in June after helping Britain and Ireland retain the Walker Cup and being ranked the top college golfer in America after three years at the University of Alabama.
"Right now if I took my game to the States I would definitely get chewed up a bit. I see myself as a worldwide golfer, someone like Ernie Els or Retief Goosen.
"The most important thing over the next four or five months is to establish myself as competitive on tour. Nobody wants to be a one-week wonder and hopefully I can compete over the next few months."
Paul McGinley returns to defend the title he won in a five-hole play-off with Paul Lawrie and Daren Lee last year, when persistent rain reduced the event to 36 holes. The Dubliner's victory effectively sealed his Ryder Cup place but he has struggled recently to regain that sort of form.
Lee Westwood is also seeking a confidence boost ahead of next month's contest at The Belfry as his winless streak approaches two years.
