Darren Clarke's bid to qualify for the Ryder Cup has received a major boost with the news that he has received an invite to the USPGA.
Ulsterman still hopeful of qualifying for Ryder Cup
Darren Clarke's bid to qualify for the European Ryder Cup team has received a major boost with the news that he has been handed an invitation to the forthcoming USPGA Championship.
Clarke was recently named as one of European captain Colin Montgomerie's assistants for Celtic Manor, but confirmed he would spurn the opportunity if he were to qualify for the team as a player.
The Ulsterman - a veteran of five Cup matches - currently stands 21st on the points list, but has the chance to move into the all-important top nine spots with victory at this week's Irish Open.
However, regardless of how he gets on in Killarney, he will now have the chance to clock up more valuable points in the season's final major.
Of his Ryder Cup situation, he commented: "Yes I will play if I qualify. I think Monty will want me to if I do. I think Thomas (Bjorn) and Paul (McGinley) will too. There's no question about that.
"If I do play well in the events I have left I possibly could give him a bigger headache. We shall see.
"We spoke at length about it and Monty said that he wants me there one way or the other.
"Right now as it stands I'm outside the team and I'm delighted to be part of his backroom staff."
Mixed memories
The USPGA Championship gets underway in two weeks' time at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin - a course which brings back mixed memories for the Northern Irishman.
When the event was last staged there in 2004 Clarke shot 65 to lead on the first day, was joint third with a round to go, but then closed with a 76 and dropped to 13th.
Looking forward to his return, he reacted to his invite by saying: "It's fantastic news - I'm absolutely delighted and feel very privileged and fortunate."
Asked for his main memory of Whistling Straits he added: "A shank on the short 17th in the third round - a really bad one. I did well to make bogey."
