EUROPEAN TOUR AFRICA OPEN:DARREN CLARKE is desperate for his career to get back on the right track this year and is hoping this week's Africa Open will be the place where he turns around his fortunes.
The 42-year-old is part of a strong field assembled in East London, with high-profile South African trio Charl Schwartzel, who is the defending champion, Louis Oosthuizen and Retief Goosen also competing for the €158,500 top prize.
Clarke is currently on a two-year winless streak having last tasted success at the 2008 Dutch Open, but there has been plenty of promise over the last two seasons.
And the Dungannon man is hoping that the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event will bring with it a change of luck.
“It’s been two years since I won but I am determined to break back and I hope the Africa Open will give me the kind of kick start it did in 2009.
“It’s always great to start the season with a solid result and I’m looking forward to getting on the right track in East London.”
His reference to 2009 coincides with his second-place finish that year after pushing eventual winner Goosen all the way over the closing holes when the tournament was not yet part of the European Tour.
Clarke added: “I have enjoyed starting my season with the Africa Open the last two years.
“In 2009 I had a pretty good result and last year’s Africa Open sparked a return to form for me, so I’m really looking forward to playing in East London.
“I’m hitting the ball as well as ever but just not scoring as well as I should be. My consistency is getting better and I’ve got to keep working on that.”
Goosen ended the year on a high after finishing second to Ernie Els at the South African Open in Durban.
“I want to get back in the winner’s circle again,” he said. “I came close a couple of times but didn’t win at all last year.
“It was a consistent year and I had a chance to win quite a few tournaments, but I struggled to put together four good rounds.”
Oosthuizen, who won the British Open at St Andrews, will be making his debut in the tournament.
“I’ve never played in the Africa Open so I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “And the conditions are likely to be windy, which I like. I played the East London course as an amateur, so I don’t remember too much about it.
“But it will be nice for me to spend another week playing at home in South Africa before I start travelling.”
AFRICA OPEN
Course:East London GC, Eastern Cape. Opened in 1893, designed by Col HV Hotchkin.
Length:6,770 yards (6,191m). Par: 73.
Prizemoney:€1 million (€158,500 for the winner)
Layout:A seaside course, a natural layout meanders through coastal dunes and bush. No water.
Irish in field:Darren Clarke, Gareth Maybin.
Defending champion:Charl Schwartzel.
On TV:Sky Sports 2, 8.30-10.30, 13.30-15.30.
Weather:Dry, sunny, 250C.
