After reaching golf’s summit in winning The Open, Darren Clarke’s vowed not venture any further this week into the Swiss Alps because of a fear of heights.
Clarke and fellow Major winning, Rory McIlroy head one of the best Omega European Masters field for some time.
Not since 2002 has the Swiss event boasted a reigning Major Champion but this year the Alpine tournament can lay claim to two in Clarke and McIlroy.
McIlroy was due to join Clarke and defending European Masters champ, Miguel Angel Jimenez at the Bonmont Club in Geneva on Monday to jointly host an Audemar Piguet sponsor’s outing but Hurricane Irene meant McIlroy not arriving into Switzerland until later that day.
The only climbing Darren Clarke wants to do is up a leader board. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Instead, it was left to Clarke and the Spaniard to be present at the world final of the Swiss watchmaker’s International Trophy.
However when Clarke was informed there would a helicopter to transport he and Jimenez from Geneva to Crans Montana his sunburnt complexion turned a decided lighter shade.
“I just hate heights and there was no way I was going to be looking out the windows of that chopper,” said Clarke.
“I know it’s probably the best way to see the Alps in a chopper and thankfully it wasn’t a long flight as I just couldn’t wait to get my feet back on the terra firma.”
The 43-year old Clarke is no stranger to the Crans-sur-Sierre course with this year marking his ‘lucky’ 13th appearance since 1992.
Clarke has enjoyed climbing to third in both 1998 and 2000 while he’s had four other top-10s.
But when Clarke was asked if he was going to accompany his fiancée in a chair lift up the 9,020 foot high Plaine Morte peak that towers over the Swiss course, Clarke said: “I’m happy for Alison to go up the mountain and see the glacier but there’s way you’re getting me into a chair or a gondola.”
The only climbing Clarke wants to do is on the leaderboard and particularly after having two weeks off since missing the halfway cut in last month’s PGA Championship in Atlanta.
His first five days were spent fishing in Donegal while fiancée, Alison enjoyed the comforts of their hotel.
“Alison likes going to the spa so places I now go fishing are dictated by a nice spa close by,” he grinned.
