Since their amateur days, the careers of Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington have been linked inextricably. So, the Tyroneman took more than a passing interest in his rival's play when they were drawn together in the first two rounds of the Turespana Masters at Club de Campo, Madrid, last week.

"Padraig's ball-striking was so good, that the 64 he shot in the second round last Friday, couldn't have been a stroke worse," said Clarke during a visit yesterday to Portmarnock Links. "On that form, and given how strong he is mentally, I wasn't surprised he went on to take the title."

Their last amateur meeting was in the final of the Irish Close at Baltray in August 1990 when, shortly before turning professional, Clarke beat Harrington by 3 and 2 in the final. Six years on, they were representing Ireland in the World Cup at Erinvale in Capetown, where they performed disappointingly to finish 19th.

"There is no comparison between Padraig now and what he was in 1996," Clarke went on. "His swing has come on unbelievably and you will find that he'll give much of the credit to Bob Torrance (his coach). Bob has made a huge difference. I see an immeasurable improvement since we played together in Capetown."

Clarke went on: "Since there was an outside chance I could finish third on Sunday, I stayed on after completing my final round and I watched Padraig over some of the finishing holes on television. Even though he wasn't playing all that well, his short game got him through."

How good is Harrington's short game by the highest standards of the professional game? "Around the greens, there aren't many better than him," the Tyroneman replied with a smile. And he went on to express pride in the fact that he and Harrington are among only 19 players to have made the cut in all four major championships this year.

Was it possible that Harrington could beat Clarke in the race to become the second Irishman to capture a major championship, so emulating the achievement of Fred Daly in the British Open of 1947? There was no attempt to duck the question which was given careful consideration.

"His work-rate is fantastic," came the response. "But with few exceptions, such as Paul Lawrie at Carnoustie last year or Andy North in the US Open, it tends to be the case that players make the breakthrough in a major by winning bigger and bigger tournaments. Maybe Padraig still has a little to do in that regard, but he definitely has the potential to do it."

Meanwhile, a final round of 65 at Club de Campo was the perfect lift for Clarke as he looks towards the final two events of the European season, starting with the Volvo Masters in Montecastillo next week. "It's the best my timing has been since I won the English Open in early June," he said.

That was when another final round of 65 gave him a 13-under-par aggregate of 275 for top prize of £130,390. And Lee Westwood, his main rival for the Order of Merit title, was fourth and Colin Montgomerie was tied sixth. "I'd take those placings over the next two tournaments," he concluded.