Clarke seeks World Championship hat-trick

Darren Clarke tees off tomorrow in pursuit of something only Tiger Woods has achieved and something which every other golfer …

Darren Clarke tees off tomorrow in pursuit of something only Tiger Woods has achieved and something which every other golfer can currently only dream of - a full set of World Golf Championship individual titles.

Four days after watching stablemate Lee Westwood continue his remarkable return to form, Clarke hopes to turn the spotlight back on himself at the American Express championship in Atlanta.

The 35-year-old Tyroneman is bidding to add the trophy to the Andersen Consulting matchplay he won in California in 2000 - by memorably beating Woods in the final - and the NEC Invitational he dominated in Ohio this August.

"The putts didn't drop last week, but the way I've been playing since the NEC obviously I have a chance here," he said. "I've been in contention every week."

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No other European has been able to win a World Championship event since their introduction to the golfing calendar four years ago, but 20 Europeans are in this week's 72-strong field at the 7,189-yard, par 70 Capital City Club Crabapple course.

Clarke could take his own personal fortune from the series through the four million mark by winning, but it looks like being a tough week ahead with some fierce rough and greens that are not only lightning fast, but also rock hard.

Now over £535,000 behind Ernie Els at the top of the European Order of Merit, Clarke is also thinking about the American money list as the official season enters its last few weeks.

He is in a great position to qualify for their Tour Championship in Houston in November and if he does so he will pull out of the Britain and Ireland side for the Seve Trophy match against Europe at El Saler in Spain.

Colin Montgomerie tees off just behind Woods, but both Clarke and Westwood are among the late starters.

PA