Clarke is big in Beijing

IT WAS all go for Darren Clarke yesterday, as the Northern Irishman blasted an explosive golden golf ball during the Beijing Auto Show to signal the arrival of a new €5.3 million tournament on to the European Tour – the BMW Masters, scheduled to take place in late-October – and also heard his defence of the Claret Jug will be on a Royal Lytham St Annes course lengthened since David Duval won there 11 years ago.

For the recently-married Clarke, en route to play in this week’s Ballantines Championship in South Korea on the European Tour, the announcement that the new tournament – known last year as the Shanghai Masters when won by Rory McIlroy – at Lake Malaren will come ahead of the WGC-HSBC Champions will only serve to reaffirm that the Asian market has become an increasingly bigger player in tour golf.

McIlroy, the world number one, won the Shanghai Masters last year when he defeated American Anthony Kim in a play-off.

The tournament (which had the biggest first prize in the sport – €1.5 million) wasn’t then recognised by any of the main tours but the European Tour’s adoption of the event, with a limited field of 78 players, means there will be a very serious Asian swing to the calendar as the Race to Dubai heats up.

In confirming he will be back to China to defend his title, McIlroy, who doesn’t return to action until next week’s Quail Hollow Championship, said in a statement: “The tournament will now be one of the very best events in the world, (and) that obviously makes it all the more exciting to defend my title there.”

As it happens, Clarke was the last winner of a European Tour at Lake Malaren: he won the 2008 Asian Open on the course. “I still have vivid memories of what was a great tournament,” said Clarke, who added: “I can’t praise BMW’s commitment to golf highly enough. For years, BMW has demonstrated around the world just how close the game is to the brand’s heart . . . we professionals all really appreciate what the company is doing for the game.”

Clarke – who will be joined by Shane Lowry, Damien McGrane, Gareth Maybin and Paul McGinley in Korea this week – finished tied-third behind Duval when the British Open was last staged at Lytham. And, for the defence of the Major title which he claimed at Sandwich last year, the Ulsterman and the rest of the field will be faced with a longer course for the season’s third Major championship on July 19th-22nd.

Some 181 yards has been added to the Lytham links on England’s eastern seaboard for the championship: all but four holes, the first, ninth, 12th and 15th, have undergone redevelopment. The course will play to a length of 7,086 yards, compared to 6,905 yards when Duval won his only Major in 2001.

One other significant factor announced by the RA yesterday is the 492-yard sixth hole has been downgraded to a par four, making the course play to a par of 70 for the championship.

Peter Dawson, chief executive of the RA, admitted they had probably reached their limits at Lytham in terms of adding extra length. “There is always room to do something but we are very close to the maximum,” he admitted.

One significant step forward revealed by the RA is spectators will be allowed to use mobile phones in designated areas around the course. A ban on mobile devices was instigated in 2006 – on the back of complaints from players – and phones will be allowed on to the course for use in pre-determined phone zones.

However, the public will not be allowed to use cameras or video recording devices during the four days of the championship.

“There is no denying the attachment people feel to their mobile phones, both in terms of gathering information and staying in touch with family and friends,” said Dawson, adding: “We understand this and allowing their use at the championship will enrich the Open experience.

“We understand there will be concerns over this change in policy but we will be liaising with spectators around the tented village and food and drink outlets.

“Strict rules will be put in place designed to ensure that play is not affected in any way by the change. Our spectators are very knowledgeable and understand golf and so we are confident they will respect the players.”

By moving the British Open galleries into the modern age of smartphone use the RA hope to improve the spectacle and tap into a younger market.

“We are offering spectators access to an enhanced range of Apps for Android, iPhone and iPad that will offer live video of play and other attractions at the Open,” added Dawson.

Graeme McDowell, meanwhile, is the sole Irish player in the field for the New Orleans Classic on the PGA Tour this week where US Masters champion Bubba Watson will also make a competitive return to tournament play for the first time since his Major breakthrough at Augusta.