Critics spurred on Clarke

Ulsterman admits hurt at journalist's slight

Last updated: 30th April 2008

Darren Clarke BMW Asian Open final round

Clarke: Back to winning ways

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Darren Clarke has revealed that what he perceived as unjust journalistic criticism helped spur him on to a return to winning ways.

The 39-year-old claimed his first European Tour victory in some five years last weekend when he sunk a 40-foot birdie putt on the last green to win by BMW Asian Open by one shot.

That success catapulted him up over 100 places in the world rankings and reignited his hopes of retaining his Ryder Cup place.

Clarke has now claimed the triumph was made even sweeter when he thought back to the words of one journalist last year who wrote he was "continuing his inexorable slide towards oblivion".

Preparing to get straight back in action at this week's Open de Espana in Seville, Clarke stated: "I can take criticism when criticism is due, but there was no call for that. It was totally gratuitous and it's nice to prove them wrong."

Monty targets two wins

Meanwhile, Colin Montgomerie, who also tees it up in Seville this week, has targeted two tournament wins in the coming months to force his way back into Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup plans.

The Scot is currently only 34th in the European standings and needs a string of good results if he is to force his way into the top ten or convince Faldo he is worth a wildcard.

Because he did not qualify for The Masters he has not played for five weeks and said today: "I've never had that long off in mid-season ever, but I'm ready and feel I can put in a good performance.

"I'm not saying I will win here (Seville), but I'm playing eight of the next nine weeks and I've got to win twice.

"If I do that I think it will prove to him (Faldo) and everyone else I am still capable of competing.

"I found out with The Masters that if you're not playing you can't win. But it's up to me now."