Clarke ready to tame Tiger again

Darren Clarke can't envision a better scenario than looking into the eye of the Tiger at The Masters.

Clarke won $1 million by thrashing Tiger Woods 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final of the Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship in February.

Besides fattening his bank account that will allow him to buy more fast cars for which he has a passion, the victory gave Clarke the reputation as a Tiger tamer. Clarke was fearless in his match with Woods, although he was outdriven on almost every hole.

"I'm fine if I have the opportunity of going head to head with him again," the Irishman said today after returning from Europe, where he has been toasted for his triumph over Woods. "I'd love for that to happen again and take my chances from there. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. You know, a lot of people seem to think he can't be beaten."

Clarke and Hal Sutton, who beat Woods by a shot in The Players Championship, have tried to dispel the notion that Woods is an automatic champion in each tournament he pegs his tee into the ground.

Sutton said Woods wasn't going to intimidate him. And Sutton proved it, winning by a shot.

Clarke did his talking with his clubs, hitting most of the fairways and greens, and outputting Woods with a barrage of birdies.

Now Clarke, who has six European Tour victories but no major titles, expects more from himself since beating Woods, the overwhelming favorite to win his second Masters.

"I thought I could compete but there's a difference between thinking you can compete and knowing you can compete," Clarke said. "Obviously, through winning a month ago my confidence has increased greatly. I'm here this week feeling as a contender and that's a bit different from what I was before."

Clarke still considers Woods the No. 1 player in the world.

"But even the best player in the world isn't unbeatable," he said. "He doesn't play fantastic every day. He just plays fantastic more often than the rest of us. That's why he is No. 1."

Clarke has had plenty of time to rest after missing the cut at The Players Championship in Florida two weeks ago.

"I had a nice time there and it's no big deal," he said. "I'm going to miss a few cuts every now and then."

Clarke and Woods still share the same teacher, Butch Harmon. Clarke jokes that it's hard to get a minute of Harmon's time.

"I spent a little time with him yesterday and I would like to sneak him away from Tiger for a while this week," Clarke said. "He'll be with Tiger most of this week and I can't really go and drag him away."

While Woods doesn't terrorize Clarke, he is bothered by his 20-month-old child's chickenpox.

"Tyrone's chickenpox is almost gone now," Clarke said. "I haven't had it and hopefully I'm not going to get it this week. Apparently, there is an incubation period of two weeks. I don't know.

"It could be this week or next week or the week after. I tried to check all my medical records. I think I've had it before but nobody can tell me definitely."

Woods or chickenpox? No contest. Clarke will take Tiger any time.