Darren Clarke has revealed that seeing Rory McIlroy win the Masters this coming weekend, and compete a career Grand Slam, is the Ryder Cup captain's main hope for this week's competition.
If McIlroy takes The Masters title this Sunday he will become only the seventh man - including both the Masters and pre-Masters era - to achieve the feat. He would also become the first European ever to claim the Slam.
Clarke also said he has high hopes that four-time Masters winner Tiger Woods will return to his competitive best in Augusta.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Clarke said: “What would make me happiest would be to see Rory complete the Grand Slam this week. What would also make me happy would be to see Tiger Woods come out and play the sort of golf we know he can play.
“They’re two of the massive names in the game. What Rory can achieve to make golfing folklore this week would be an unbelievable achievement at 25 years of age.
“But as I’ve said recently in media, I think he’s going to win in Augusta at some future stage anyway and probably more than once because his game is so suited to here.
“And then you look at Tiger and his record here is second to none. He loves the golf course as well. It’s going to be a very interesting week and as you said there is so many different stories going on with Tiger back and Rory chasing the Grand Slam dream.”
“Augusta can go either way. When you learn where the trouble is you can possibly play away from it” - Darren Clarke
Clarke himself will be making his 13th appeareance in The Masters and knows all too well how tricky the famous course can be, having never managed to finish in the top five, his best finish tied eighth back in 1998.
“It’s a very special place to keep coming back to here. But it’s on a knife edge here and the first time here I didn’t really know where all the trouble was,” said Clarke.
“Augusta can go either way. When you learn where the trouble is you can possibly play away from it.
“But that comes from experience. Some of the shots become a little more intimidating because you know you cannot afford to miss them in certain places.
“But it’s a unique challenge; it’s one that we don’t face too frequently. As difficult as this golf course is, you’re always one shot away from a double bogey or a disaster.”
The Northern Irishman’s last pro win came back in 2011 when he claimed The Open Championship, but he rebuffed any suggestion that he is only going to The Masters to make up the numbers.
“I want to play in a tournament to contend in a tournament. I’ve never played in a tournament to make the cut and I never intend to do so,” said Clarke.
“I’m very happy with my ball striking. I’ve got no issues at all and down in South Africa [at the Tshwane Open, Pretoria] I went left hand below right with my putting; first time I’ve ever done it and it felt great. The strike off the putter has improved drastically. Whilst they’re still not going in they’re missing closer.
“I’m continue practicing hard and keep going. It’ very frustrating not playing the way I want to play. But it’s what I want to do. The only thing I’ve ever done and what I want to keep doing.”
Clarke slimmed down last year through a changed fitness programme and feels that if he can find form in his game, his new physique will help him to compete should he be in it to win it at the tight end of tournaments.
“I’m sticking to what I’ve done and I’ve managed to keep the weight off and getting stronger with the whole programme and I’m comfortable with it now with the whole coordination etc,” said Clarke.
“With my golf swing, I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be as good as what it can be.
“I’ve been this weight now for over a year so hopefully my game does turn around and I’ll be in much better physical shape to deal with it.”
