Darren Clarke is back playing golf and today it was possible to detect that the Ulsterman was also back to his ebullient self as he looks ahead to playing his fifth consecutive Ryder Cup and aiming for his fourth win.

When Clarke first made himself available for Ian Woosnam's team, following the death of his wife Heather in August, he was always set to play in last week's Madrid Masters, if only to dust off the cobwebs and prepare for this one of the biggest week's in any professional golfer's career. And is he emotionally ready to play in such a highly pressurized environment? You bet he is.

"Most definitely," was Clarke's response to being ready to play on
Woosie's team. "I wouldn't be here unless I felt I could do it. I worked hard at home and it was good to play last week and get back into a competitive arena even though I didn't quite shoot the scores I wanted to."

"This is a much bigger week. It's (Ryder Cup) one of the biggest events in the world and like no other golf tournament in the world. Sure, there will probably be some difficult moments," adds Clarke in reference to the emotional strain he may feel.

"I think when it comes to the first tee it won't be any more difficult than it normally is because because that's back to the golfing side of things and that's what I do."

"I won't be any more nervous than my previous four Ryder Cups. Yes there will be an emotional side of things but when the golf starts, we're all back in the business of playing. That's why I'm here, I want to play, I want to compete and I want to help my team mates win some points for Europe."

At one point it looked as though Ireland might form up to one third of the European team. As it stands Clarke, alongside Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, ensures Ireland forms one quarter of the team and that's something the 38-year-old is proud off.

"Yeah, it's huge, and last year seeing Graeme McDowell playing well, it almost looked like we had a chance of four players. As it is we have three and for a small country, in golfing terms, to have three players on a Ryder Cup team is huge."

The fact that this is Ireland's year to host such a global sporting event made Clarke all the more determined to make the team. "I really wanted to be part of it. I said it before and I'll say it again, I was desperate to be here. But at the same time if I didn't think I would contribute to the team and be a benefit to the team I wouldn't have made myself available," noted Clarke.

Clarke was touched by the generosity and well wishes he was given at such a difficult time when his wife passed away. "It's nice to know I had so much support. The kind words that Tiger said recently and the support from all the guys I really, really appreciated it. A lot of people understand the situation I'm in. I've had a very emotional time of late but as soon as the bell goes on Friday I'm there to play golf."

And Clarke can certainly play golf around this Palmer Course for he once shot 60 during the European Open in 1999, albeit before modifications  made the course more difficult. He also won the European Open here in 2001. You carved it up around the Palmer Course before? "Yes, but Dr Smurfit didn't like that and decided to change it all around and it's much more difficult now," joked Clarke.

"It wasn't an easy golf course when I shot 60 by any means but it was a little easier than now, probably by two or three shots as there's more length and trees and some of the greens have changed."

Whatever challenges lie ahead for Clarke on the golf course his emotional battles will surely be the most difficult. For now though he is putting a brave face on it and genuinely looks hungry to compete.