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Woods delight at Clarke's Ryder chance

12/09/2006

Tiger Woods today expressed his delight at having seen his close friend and Ryder Cup rival Darren Clarke handed a wildcard place for the K Club clash later this month.

Clarke slipped out of the running for an automatic place in the European team after taking time away from the game due to the sad death of his wife Heather last month.

But the affable Irishman was handed one of skipper Ian Woosnam's two call-ups, a decision praise by Woods, who also suffered a tragedy this year when his father Earl died in May.

"He is one of my good friends and to see him picked to play says a lot about what Woosie thinks of Darren as a player," the world number one said.

"It's about the quality of the player you are and the person you are. He earned the right to be on the team. What Darren has gone through you would not wish on anybody and I think it's just fantastic he's in the team.

"Darren, I think, is going to have a huge impact, not just for the Europeans, but for all of us. It's truly remarkable he is going to play and compete and I can't wait to see him and give him a big hug."

Woods, who spearheads the US team in Ireland, added he is expecting the European team be the favourites to retain the trophy.

"We are definitely the underdogs - it seems that is what is needed to win," he added. "But it's about how you putt and how you play the 18th. I think we won one match on the 18th two years ago, that one hole turns a lot of matches around."

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