Darren Clarke believes next week’s Masters would not be the same without four-time Augusta National champion Tiger Woods.
After his private jet was spotted at Augusta Regional Airport Woods management confirmed he played a full practice round on the Georgia golfing gem Tuesday
And Clarke, who is contesting this week’s Shell Houston Open, is confident Woods will be among those competing next week at Augusta.
Darren Clarke working on his game ahead of the opening round of the Shell Houston Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“It’s wonderful that Tiger is back playing again as the whole golfing world will be wanting to see one of the superstars of the game playing again,” said Clarke.
“So hopefully Tiger will be in good form and playing the sort of golf we have been accustomed to.
“And while it is a tough place to come back to, Tiger’s played well there before and it’s a golf course he knows very, very well so it will be great to see him back there.”
And if Woods join this year’s Masters field it will help, as many are already suggesting, to lift some of the media spotlight from the shoulders of World No. 1 Rory McIlroy in his quest to join Woods as only one of six players to win a ‘Grand Slam’.
“The pressure on Rory next week will coming all from the media but then I don’t think it will make it any easier for the rest of us, as Augusta never gets any easier no matter what is going on,” said Clarke.
Clarke is competing for a first time in the States this week after being appointed European Ryder Cup captain.
He had been due to play a practice round on Tuesday rival USA Team Captain Davis Love 111 on this week’s Golf Club of Houston host course but the American texted Clarke on Monday indicating he was undergoing surgery on an injured right toe.
Like Augusta National, Clarke is no stranger to this week’s $US 6.6m host venue though he will not have want reminding he has missed the cut in his last four appearances dating back to 2006 but then was second to Vijay Singh on debut in 2002 at the TPC Woodlands course.
“It’s nice to get back to what I guess is my day job and the good thing is that they try this week to get the Houston course set up like Augusta,” he said.
“In my last couple of tournaments in South Africa I started hitting the ball very, very well and I just want to continue on from there.
“Then next week it’s the first Major of the year and it’s going to be a pleasure getting back there again and Augusta should be pristine as it always it.
“So while I have got other roles in golf it still gets my juices flowing thoughts of playing in the Masters.
“I’ve played Augusta many times before and it’s all a case of minimizing your mistakes as you have to hit good golf shots.
Six people ventured to the far end of the range to see Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke practicing at the Golf Club of Houston. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“But in saying that there will still be some butterflies in the stomach standing on that first tee again but then they won’t be as bad as when I first played there”.
Unlike Love 111 who has a real ‘Stars and Stripes’ theme and with the letters ‘USA’ emblazoned on his golf bag when observed last week in San Antonio, Clarke has a simple Ryder Cup logo under his name on his bag.
And there was just six people watching Clarke practice at the opposite end of the range to the main body of players ahead of Clarke teeing-up in yesterday’s (WED) Pro-Am and in his first appearance on US soil as Europe’s new captain.
“The reception since arriving here in Houston has all been very positive and Shell hosted a dinner last night for all the players, and I was introduced as Ryder Cup Captain so it’s all been very nice,” he said.
And Clarke, who actually made his Masters debut in 1998 when he secured a best-ever result of eighth has advised Augusta rookie Shane Lowry, to seek out as many long-time Masters competitors as he can in the three days of practice.
Lowry confirmed last week in San Antonio he will play a round with Harrington but Clarke insists Lowry not stop there.
“My advice to Shane is to play as many practice rounds as he can with guys who’ve been there a lot so as they can get to know the golf course better and to be aware also of those areas where you can miss the green and be in a better position by far than hitting the green,” he said.
“That all comes from knowing the pin positions, and some of those pin positions are not obvious.”
And Clarke is delighted to be returning to Augusta as part of a record-setting five Irish competing in the season’s first Major.
“It speaks volumes for the state of Irish golf are present and to have five teeing up next week is huge,” he said.
“So long may it continue”.
Clarke’s only uncertanity with a week to the Masters who will caddy for him in the Par 3 Contest with his two boys tied up in school.
