DARREN CLARKE showed wonderful patience and not a little skill when gaining a no table, 2 and 1 win over Bernhard Langer yesterday. It camel in the Ulsterman's debut appearance in the European quarter finals of the $3.6 million Andersen Consulting World Championship at Buckingham GC.

With a handsome guarantee of $70,000 already secured, Clarke now meets Costantino Rocca in the second semi final today. The other semifinal is between the European holder, Sam Torrance, and fellow Scot Colin Montgomerie whom he beat in last year's final.

Persistent rain for much of the day, placed a premium on patience. But Clarke clearly remembered the matchplay dogma of Gary Player who insisted that the key to avoiding disappointment, was to expect your opponent to hole everything. And it seemed as if Langer was going to do just that.

Nobody has used the broomhandle putter as effectively ash the German since he turned to it last September. And while Clarke outplayed him decisively from tee to green, the German wrought some devastating magic with the long implement.

"I knew he was going to do things like that," said Clarke afterwards. "I also knew the match would be played at his pace. In fact my mental preparation was very good. I kept reminding myself that he couldn't, have achieved his huge success in the game without being a very tough competitor."

For Clarke to make it a winning strategy, it was vital he didn't allow Langer to gain control of the match. So, it was a considerable help that he took the 505 yard opening hole where he hit a four iron to the fringe and chipped dead from 15 feet for a winning birdie.

But he lost the next two - the second to a 12 foot birdie from Langer and the third which he three putted. Still, Clarke remained admirably composed, smiling frequently throughout the match. As it happened, he drew level with an 18 foot birdie putt at the fourth and was never behind from then on.

In fact a winning birdie at the long fifth provided a useful cushion for a misjudgment at the next, where he overshot the green with a five iron. He then had to contend with an 18 footer from Langer for a half in birdie at the eighth; a 10 footer for another half in birdie at the 11th and a nine footer for a half in par at the 12th.

Eventually, superior ball striking found its reward. With a glorious seven iron approach to eight feet at the 448 yard 13th, Clarke took the lead with a birdie three. Then, from a position tight against the fringe at the 15th, he got down in two putts from 50 feet for a priceless half.

He wrapped up the match at the 17th, getting up and down from a greenside trap after Langer mis judged his approach and later missed from 12 feet. Clarke, who missed only two fairways and one green in regulation, had six birdies and was an approximate three under par for the holes played.

Rocca had comparable figures but faltered towards the finish in his match against Jesper Parnevik. In fact the American based Swede came from two down with two to play to win the 17th and 18th in par, birdie.

But his chance of a surprise win disappeared at the second tie hole where he drove into a lake. "It will be a tough match against Darren - he is playing very well at the moment," said Rocca afterwards.

Torrance produced killer blows against Ian Woosnam at the 11th, 12th and 13th holes which he won in eagle, birdie, birdie to go four up. "My plan now is to make as much money as I can before they ban the long putter, he said, half joking but, one suspected, whole in earnest.

The Scot was referring to the weekend's announcement that the Royal and Ancient are to look again at the legality of the long putter. What worries us is the way it is, used - like a pendulum, really, said R and A secretary Michael Bonallack. "That is something we have always been concerned about so we're examining it."

The favourite, Montgomerie, won the first hole in birdie against JoseMaria Olazabal and was always ahead from there on. The Spaniard rallied momentarily with winning birdies at the sixth and 15th but the Scot's stronger play overall, proved to be decisive. "I'm playing as well as anyone right now from tee to green - Tiger Woods apart," said Montgomerie afterwards.