Last year’s Open champion Darren Clarke has vowed to be fit enough to play in next month’s Irish Open at Royal Portrush after being forced to pull out of the US Open with a groin strain.
The 42-year-old, 150/1 with bookmaker to successfully defend his crown at Royal Lytham and St Annes in July, is set to spend the next four weeks on the sidelines and is a major doubt for his home championship, which begins on 28th June.
Clarke, who is desperate to play in front of his home supporters as he tries to turn around his poor form this season, said: “Hopefully I will be fit and raring to go.
“I’ve been playing through a bit of pain since Houston. I wanted to carry on because I have not been playing that well but it was time to say enough’s enough and take a bit of a break. I will do everything I can to be fit and ready for the Irish Open.”
Current world number one Luke Donald is 12/1 to break his Major duck by winning next month’s US Open.