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Darren Clarke sights
set on first Major
Darren Clarke has refuted Tony Jacklin's
accusation that the Northern Irishman does not have enough desire to win the Open.
Jacklin, who won the event at Lytham
in 1969, said in Wednesday's Daily Telegraph that Clarke, along with Lee Westwood
and Colin Montgomerie had the game to win a major but questioned their commitment
"Do they want it bad enough?" asked
Jacklin. "Is it really necessary to their lives? No, I don't think so."
Clarke said there was no doubting his
desire and said that winning the British Open was his driving ambition.
"I can assure you it's 15 or 20 out
of 10. I do want to win a major," he said.
"I'm not out here to win tournaments
and have a nice time. I want to win majors, that is what I want to do and the
Open is the one I'd want most.
"I'll give it my best this week and
if it comes together then fantastic but if not then I will have more chances."
Clarke, who tied for second place behind
Justin Leonard in 1997, has been questioned before about his attitude as his portly,
cigar-smoking figure bore little resemblance to the toned lines of the likes of
Tiger Woods.
But he said he had managed to shed
two stones (28lbs) in recent months and was feeling good.
However, there is a limit to how far
he was prepared to go to get in shape and when asked if he had been "pumping iron"
he replied: "Don't ask stupid questions."
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