Clarke: Ryder Cup made me stronger
Darren Clarke has won in four of the five Ryder Cups he has been involved in
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Tuesday, 28, Nov 2006 10:18
Darren Clarke believes that an emotionally-charged Ryder Cup campaign at the K Club this year has equipped him with the mental strength to take on any challenge he may face in his career.
The Northern Irishman played a crucial part in Europe's retention of the trophy, winning all three of his matches in spite of losing his wife just a few week's before the tournament.
He says that the huge cheer that greeted him as he teed up in his first fourball pairing with Lee Westwood made him fear that his emotions may overwhelm him.
"It was a very pressurised situation for me, because it's the Ryder Cup and because of what I had gone through prior to that," the 38-year-old admitted.
"You are never quite sure what way things are going to go, but I managed to get through it, tee it up and make pretty solid contact with it.
"I'm sure there is no situation that I am ever going to face again where there is going to be more pressure on me than there, so if and when I do get into position to challenge for majors, then hopefully that is going to give me a little bit of extra back-up when I do get in that position."
Clarke is strong favourite to win the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year competition after his remarkable performance in Ireland.