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Clarke 'ready' for Ryder Cup

18/09/2006

Darren Clarke has said he is ready to compete at the K Club in this week's Ryder Cup and believes he will be at the centre of the European team's efforts to retain the trophy.

The 38-year-old Irishman has not played professional golf for the last couple of months following the death of his wife, Heather, who passed away after a long battle with cancer in August.

But he was handed a surprise wildcard by European captain Ian Woosnam, and insisted today that he was ready for the challenge.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could compete with the best," Sky Sports reported Woosnam as saying at a press conference earlier today.

"I really wanted to be part of it. I was desperate to be here but at the same time if I didn't think I could contribute to the team and be a benefit to the team I would have made the decision to not be available to play. So from that point of view I've made the decision to come and play because I believe I can help the team," he said.

"This is a big week, it's one of the biggest events in the world let alone golf tournament in the world," he added.

"I'm glad I played last week, because I didn't want to come and sit in here and have the same questions that I got last week and nothing should overshadow the golf this week."

Clarke has said on his website that his late wife Heather will be "sorely missed" during the Ryder Cup's opening ceremony, but has rejected an idea that he could take his sister Andrea along in her stead.

"This was going to be one of the many things I will face that I have to do on my own," he said.

Clarke has featured in the last four Ryder Cups, three of which have been won by Europe. He has won eight European Tour tournaments in his career, along with six other professional tournaments.

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