• Open Championship

Ryder Cup on Clarke's radar

ESPN staff
July 19, 2011
Darren Clarke is the toast of Northern Ireland following his Open Championship win © Getty Images
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Darren Clarke has played down the prospect of him leading Europe's 2014 Ryder Cup side as captain, insisting he wants to secure his place in the team as a player.

Clarke is still riding the celebratory wave after winning the Open Championship on Sunday. After a sleepless night in Kent, Clarke clambered onto a plane to his native Northern Ireland and is likely to remain in the party spirit for some time to come.

He has called on the R&A to take the Open to Royal Portrush, while with his stock riding high he has been asked about his prospects of taking on the Ryder Cup captaincy.

Clarke has a fine Ryder Cup record and would no doubt relish the role, but he intends to secure his place in the team at Gleneagles as a player.

"I am sure in 2014 we are going to have a wonderful Ryder Cup," Clarke said. "It will be a fantastic event, as it has been for numerous years now.

"In terms of me, I would love to be in the team playing in the 2014 Ryder Cup never mind anything else. We will see how things work and whatever role if any I have in it, I will be delighted."

Clarke has played in five Ryder Cups, winning four times, and was part of the victorious Europe side that triumphed at the K Club in 2006 - a matter of weeks after his wife had lost her battle with cancer. He was non-playing vice captain at Celtic Manor in 2010.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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