Clarke returns to winning way

Darren Clarke prepared for this week's United States Open and a clash with Tiger Woods to win his third Compass Group English Open title in four years.

Ulsterman Clarke coped best with the terrible weather at the Forest of Arden and was delighted with the win.

"A win at any stage is good for your confidence, but at this time it's even better," said Clarke, chalking up his ninth European Tour success.

"This was probably even more satisfying than the others because I've been playing well in recent weeks but not putting a score on the board.

"This course has been good to me but I played all the tough holes well this week and the weather was terrible today.

"This coming week (at Bethpage State Park) there are going to be 18 tough holes. So I'm glad I'm comfortable hitting the ball where I want to. The eagle on the 12th got me into a great position."

After reverting to the normal-length putter with which he overcame Woods in the 2000 Accenture World Matchplay, Clarke is brimming with confidence at the prospect of playing with the world number one.

"I won't be distracted or intimidated by playing with Tiger, and I'm relishing the thought," insisted the 33-year-old.

"If I'm focused as well as I was this week, nothing will bother me."

Clarke ended an 11-month barren spell by splashing his way to a three-stroke victory, his superb closing 68 giving him the £133,330 first prize with a 17-under-par total of 271.

Dane Soren Hansen - no relation to Volvo PGA winner Anders - was second after three closing birdies and Clarke's Ryder Cup team-mate Phillip Price was third for the second week running, this time jointly with France's Raphael Jacquelin.

Now Clarke will hope to display the same form when he is paired with Woods in the first two rounds at Bethpage Park - at 7,214 yards the longest course ever used for the US Open and a par 70.

Woods already knows what he is capable of. Two years ago in the world match play championship in California they clashed in the final and Clarke turned on the style to take the million-dollar first prize by a four and three margin.

The 33-year-old was the only player in the world's top 30 taking part in the English Open and his class showed.

He shared the first round lead with Australian Jarrod Moseley, the second round with Scottish rookie David Drysdale and the third with Jacquelin.

Sandy Lyle, Justin Rose and Sam Torrance both entertained hopes of victory with a round to go, but they were never able to get close.

Former Open and Masters champion Lyle, 10 years on from his last win, had a 71 for joint sixth place - his best finish since he lost a play-off to Ian Woosnam in South Korea in 1997.

Rose, still only 21, missed out on a second successive win and fifth of the year with a 73. He was alongside Lyle as a result.

Ryder Cup captain Torrance, whose Saturday 65 had him thinking of becoming the oldest winner in tour history two months away from his 49th birthday, scored 73 and had to settle for a share of 10th spot with Webster.

Torrance's consolation was the form of Clarke and Price with the match against the Americans now only three months away.

Clarke has been one of Europe's leading lights since he was eighth on the Order of Merit in 1993.

But this was only the 11th win of his career and at the US Open he has never finished higher than 10th.

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