When Darren Clarke visited the BMW Masters Media Centre here in Shanghai this afternoon he was carrying one of his wedges in his hand.

Of course, it’s common for players to arrive with a putter or a wedge with them, given they usually time their visit after the end of a practice session.

In Clarke’s case he’d came off the short-game practice range at the Lake Malaren Golf Club.

Darren Clarke in a joyful mood this afternoon but be careful, he’s got a wedge resting against the leg of the table. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

However my mischievous manner got the better of me and I remarked:  “Oh, look out we better not ask any curly questions”.The former Open Champion, who started smiling, responded:  “Yeah, you just look out Bernie or you’ll find this wedge sticking out of your skull.  So just be careful what you ask me!”

Of course, the subject of the 2014 Ryder Cup captaincy was a no, no given the Ulsterman has drawn a line under the subject following his remarks to me during the recent Alfred Dunhill Links Championship that he would embrace the role with both arms, and further stating there is no greater honour for a player on the European Tour than to be offered the European Team captaincy.

However there was a BMW connection Clarke delighted in reliving and that was his success four years ago at the nearby Tomson Golf Club course in capturing the 2008 BMW Asian Open.

That was the last occasion BMW sponsored a European Tour event in Asia.

Clarke captured the 11th of his 14 European Tour titles at the 2008 BMW Asian Open in the nearby Tomson Golf Club course here in Shangha.

The Northern Irishman is this week one of 78 players competing in the inaugural European Tour event on the Lake MaLaren course and while there’s been a disappointing downturn in his game he’s hoping rekindled memories of his win here four years ago could help inspire him heading into this week’s $US 7m event.

“It was my first win on The European Tour for five years, so the Tomson club was a really nice event,” said the 44 year old.

“The golf course was great and obviously it suited me.

“It was great to see a sponsor as good as BMW back in Asia again – this course is much longer and much more difficult.”

It is not only the challenging layout Clarke has to contend with – The Ryder Cup vice-captain is up against 11 of Europe’s winning team from Medinah, and four of the top five players from the Official World Golf Ranking.

“It’s a really strong field,” he added. “We have four of the top five in the world – that’s a fantastic achievement for a European Tour event, and not just those four, but all the rest of the players that are here. It’s a fantastic event with lots of World Ranking points.

“It’s my first time playing the golf course and it’s playing really nicely at the moment. The greens are tough because of the severity in the slopes, but all in all, I’m sure it’s going to be a very exciting week.“

However when the official part of Clarke’s interview session wound-up there was a few questions, and including a teaser on the subject of the 2014 Ryder Cup captaincy.

But then when he started nodding his head back and forward and saying nothing, I thought about the wedge still resting against the leg of the table.