Darren Clarke goes into this week's BMW International knowing that the eyes of the golfing world are on him.
Not only has the current European number two a golden chance to become number one on Sunday night but pundits will be expecting him to prove why Europe's new Ryder Cup captain Mark James considers him `a really tremendous talent who is capable of anything'.
Clarke has racked up two seconds and a fourth in his last three events. If he is capable of going one better this week, a £141,660 first prize will see him easily overtake friend Lee Westwood on top of Europe's order of merit. In fact, the second prize will suffice because Clarke lies only £55,662 behind his stablemate. He has to beware Colin Montgomerie, though. If Clarke surprises everyone, including himself, and plays badly for the first time in a month, then Montgomerie can overtake him for the number two slot if he can improve on his recent form.
But on the course where Clarke equalled David Feherty's record 62 in 1992, there is every chance he can excel and nail down his second title of the year, so eclipsing a strong field which also includes Jose Maria Olazabal, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam.
Clarke is fully aware of the onus on him this week and the following year of Ryder Cup points combat, with the new Cup table beginning next week in Crans sur Sierre.
But it is a case of allowing matters to take their course. Of his order of merit title aspirations and, indeed, next year's Ryder Cup at Brookline, he said: "Most definitely I'll be wanting to play under Mark James's captaincy next year. But success on that score will come naturally with success in tournaments. This week is the same as last week. I'm looking to win.
"You can't help having mediocre days though. Then it's a case of grinding out a score. Lately, I've been doing that when an off day has come along. The Ryder Cup and the order of merit are all the same. Play well, and I seem to be doing that at the moment, and things fall into place."
While Clarke hardly has an inspirational draw today, teeing off with last year's Valderrama vice-captain Miguel Jimenez and Madeira winner Mats Lanner of Sweden, Paul McGinley has almost hit the jackpot - or has he?
For the fourth time this year, McGinley has been drawn with Seve Ballesteros but this time Woosnam makes up the threeball. Only a start with Montgomerie or Langer would have been more high profile and McGinley is sure to have a huge gallery.
He attempts to move up into one of the top 15 places for the end of the year, which will at least ensure two majors. He has 11 spots to climb.
The last two weeks have seen McGinley hard at work practising with new coach Peter Cowen. "I'm determined to better my short-game," said McGinley, who is using Clarke's teacher with that aim. "Peter's got Darren in great shape with his short-game. That's why he's where he is." Five Irishmen contend in Munich with Eamonn Darcy, Des Smyth and Raymond Burns making up the rest of the contingent
Card Of The Course Hole Yards Par Hole Yards Par 1 432 4 10 472 4
2 208 3 11 538 5
3 447 4 12 153 3
4 349 4 13 372 4
5 331 4 14 464 4
6 481 5 15 396 4
7 441 4 16 319 4
8 197 3 17 189 3
9 557 5 18 568 5
Out 3443 36 In 3471 36
Total 6,914 yards, par 72.
