Clarke's in good mind to perform

Darren Clarke has hardly stopped to catch his breath this summer. In a 27-week stretch, he has squeezed in 24 tournaments, elbowed his way to the top of Europe's Ryder Cup standings and - thanks to a high-protein diet, not the physical exertions of darting from one venue to another - has shed almost three stone in weight.

Add in three wins on three different continents since the start of the year, and life for the world number eight could hardly be better.

The missing link in the entire equation, however, is that a major championship has still evaded his grasp. Most recently, in the British Open at Lytham, he had a gilt-edged opportunity to capture a major (eventually finishing tied-third behind David Duval) but, even though he celebrated his 33rd birthday here on Tuesday, there is no sense that the clock is ticking away on him.

"I would not say that I am overdue a major," insisted Clarke. "It seems to me that it's the people who keep getting themselves into contention in the majors who do go on to win one. I have got to keep getting myself into positions like I did at Lytham. But it is a gradual thing, you're always trying to improve and trying to keep on giving yourself those chances."

Clarke's game, though, is at such a level as he heads into his fourth USPGA appearance (his best finish was tied-ninth at Valhalla last year) that he hasn't even felt the need to consult his coach Butch Harmon on any aspects since his arrival. In fact, the only meeting they had was in the locker room the other day when Harmon gave him a birthday gift of a cigar-holder.

After all the jet-setting and back-to-back tournament play which he has undertaken for the past few months, Clarke took time out last week to spend some time with his family in Portugal before heading Stateside for a corporate day in Baltimore on Friday, followed by a couple of days at Pine Valley - "the best course in the world," he claimed - where he spent Sunday watching the Walker Cup on television and then highlights of Paul McGinley's play-off win in the Wales Open.

So relaxed has the player been with his game, in fact, he decided to play only 18 holes in practice - nine on Tuesday, the other nine yesterday - and, from what he has seen, there is a belief that this is his kind of course.

"If I drive the ball as I have been of late, then I should give myself a good chance this week. The course is long, so you need to get it out a little bit off the tees. If you don't, then you're going to be going into some of these par fours with woods, which is going to be very, very tough."

Far from being intimidated by the prospect of playing such a long course, with the premium very much on the tee-shot, Clarke professed himself happy with the idea of being able to use the driver off the tee more frequently than has been the case in the other three majors this season.

"I think it's great to put accuracy back on the driver again. There's been all of this talk about technology and the ball going too far and how they have to do something about it. But this course addresses that. You have to drive the ball straight and long this week. It is great to come and play a course where you don't have to hit three-woods or two-irons up short of certain hazards."

With no glitches in his game, and his mind and body refreshed from a week off, Clarke plans to get into contention in a major again this week. Only time will tell, however, if his moment to get his hands on a major title has come, or if he has to spend more time as a contender.