Clarke Plans to Dazzle at The Open

Darren Clarke refuses to get down about his poor level of form since becoming Open champion 12 months ago.

The Northern Irishman emerged from a spell in the wilderness to win at Sandwich last year, propelling him from 111th in the world rankings to 30th.

However, he has returned to the relative obscurity of 84th in the list as he has consistently failed to rediscover the form that brought him a belated first major title.

But the 43-year-old insists the pressure he has put on himself to do the Claret Jug proud has proved his undoing.

"You'd think at the age of 43 and having played in Ryder Cups and won World Golf Championships, I'd be more understanding," he said.

"Yet my desire to do more has got in the way of me playing well. I wanted to play like an Open champion and tried too hard to do it instead of just playing.

"I'd be down here (at Royal Portrush) for nine or 10 hours a day in the pouring rain and wind thinking to myself 'I've got to play better'. It hasn't quite worked.

"You don't get anywhere without practice, though, and at some stage it will pay off. I don't know when, but it will."

But, despite the results this season, he believes he can emulate Padraig Harrington and go back-to-back at a venue where he was tied third in 2001 and joint 11th in 1996.

"I've had a wonderful time with the Claret Jug," he added. "I've had a wonderful year off the golf course and a tough one on it.

"My name is still on it and I've got a taste of winning at the ultimate level at the ultimate tournament. I know if I get myself in the same position again next weekend, I know I can do it again.

"You'd think I would be fed up with everything, down in the dumps, because of the way I have played. But I'm not - I'm working away. I'm feeling okay.

"I always thought I had enough talent to win a major championship and The Open was the one because of my liking for links golf.

"It just so happens that The Open is the biggest and best of all of them. I feel very honoured that my name is on that jug with that great list of champions."