FeAfter having to repair the famed Claret Jug, Darren Clarke’s hoping a return to links golf will do the same for his flagging British Open winning game.

Clark will again join his manager ‘Chubby’ Chandler for this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

Darren Clarke with the famed Claret Jug.

However Clarke confessed he had to give golf’s oldest Major’s trophy a ‘twist’ to straighten it after it was dropped by friends celebrating his victory.

“I’ve not managed to drop it, but a few other people have so I’ve had to twist and straighten it out,” he said.

“It can bend quite easily believe it or not.  I won’t tell where it was but it’s happened a few times, and it’s not my fault.”

Clarke is returning to competition since being a part of Paul McGinley’s winning GB & I Vivendi Seve Trophy side, and it’s also the first time he’s played links golf since his Royal St. George’s success.

It had been a disappointing week in France for the Ulster star who was playing so poorly he had McGinley drop him from the Saturday ‘Greensome’ match.

Clarke was also beaten 4 & 2 by Miguel Angel Jimenez in the Sunday Singles.

“Coming back to links golf, and especially here at St. Andrews is always fantastic,” said Clarke.

“I enjoy links golf, and having won on links golf at Royal St. George’s,  is always very enjoyable.”

While Clarke can be content with winning a first Major, the 42-year old says he’s not about to rest on his laurels and is determined to end his best-ever season on a winning note.

“My desire and my determination is as strong as it’s ever been, but in terms of my golfing career, I’ve won World Golf Championships, I’ve won The Open, so it’s been a pretty decent career.

“But in saying that, at some stage in the future I would might be asked to be a Ryder Cup Captain, and so what more could I do?

“I could win more Majors but then this game has been pretty good to me.  So I’ve been very lucky.”

Fellow Northern Irishman Gaeme McDowell, who has his older brother, Gary as a partner, returns to competition in Europe for a first occasion since finishing mid-field in the Irish Open.

McDowell was last week in New Jersey hosting a corporate outing at the Bayonne Club that involved a boat ride from New York City along the Hudson River and past the Statue of Liberty.

But after a poor season competing in the Majors, McDowell is determined to ignite the winning torch in the handful of events he has remaining this year.

“This is one of the best weeks of the year, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and if you can stay out of the Jigger Inn you have half a chance this week,” said McDowell.

“I just love this event even though I got beaten in a play-off in ’05 and there’s nothing in golf like the first tee here at St. Andrews as it has to be the best first tee in all of golf.

“But I am hoping this week can be the start of a good end third of the season for me.

“In a way I’m glad the Majors this year have come and gone, and I’ve been glad to be able to hand the U.S. Open trophy to my good friend of mine in Rory McIlroy.

“But I just haven’t putted well this year as last year I was one of the better putters in the world inside 15-feet and I just haven’t been able to come up with that this year.

“However I feel like I’ve turned a corner and I’m looking to this last part of the year and also getting back on the European Ryder Cup team.”

Gary McDowell is a greens keeper at the Rathmore Club at Portrush.