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Clarke ready to win again after Open whirlwind

Darren Clarke is determined to add to his list of victories © Getty Images

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• Profile: Darren Clarke

Open champion Darren Clarke is determined to add to his list of achievements in 2012, after admitting he initially struggled to adjust to life as a major winner.

Clarke enjoyed a memorable four days at Royal St George's last summer, claiming the Claret Jug to become a first-time major champion at the age of 42. In the aftermath the demands on his time increased but his form suffered dramatically as a result - as the Northern Irishman finished inside the top 50 in just two of his next seven events on the European Tour.

Having finally adjusted to his new status, however, Clarke is ready to bounce back in 2012 and live up to his heightened billing. Adding to his 20 worldwide professional victories and making Europe's team for the Ryder Cup are his two aims, but Clarke believes keeping a level head will prove key to those twin ambitions.

"After the Open I struggled," Clarke admitted in The Times. "I was pushing myself so hard and was so busy that the only chance I had to sit down afterwards and reflect on my win was over Christmas.

"When I won the Open I found the demands on my time were very surprising. I wasn't ready for it and my time management is going to have to be an awful lot better this year. Everything was turned upside down with the win."

He added: "My other big aim is not to be so hard on myself. It's something I've been trying to do for 22 years as a professional but it's difficult. I'm a perfectionist. I know I've nothing to prove but it's almost going the other way. I'm just craving more success and wanting to push myself harder and harder."

Having briefly considered giving up the game before he returned to winning ways at the Iberdrola Open last season, Clarke is now keen to continue his career on the European Tour until he is 55.

"It's definitely time to kick on," he said. "I want to get back into winning tournaments again and just keep on challenging. I'm back in the gym and want to get fit so that I won't make so many mistakes around the last few holes because I'm tired."

In the world rankings, Volvo Golf Champions winner Branden Grace continued his rapid rise as he moved inside the top 100. The South African, now ranked 92nd, began the year a lowly 271st but has stormed towards the upper echelons after back-to-back victories.

The week's other winner, Mark Wilson, has moved up 17 places to 40th after his triumph at the Humana Challenge. Charl Schwartzel was the only mover inside the top 20, edging up a spot to eighth at the expense of Dustin Johnson.

World Rankings: 1. Luke Donald (ENG), 2. Lee Westwood (ENG), 3. Rory McIlroy (NIR), 4. Martin Kaymer (GER), 5. Steve Stricker (USA), 6. Webb Simpson (USA), 7. Adam Scott (AUS), 8. Charl Schwartzel (RSA), 9. Dustin Johnson (USA), 10. Jason Day (AUS), 11. Matt Kuchar (USA), 12. Nick Watney (USA), 13. Graeme McDowell (NIR) 14. KJ Choi (KOR), 15. Phil Mickelson (USA), 16. Justin Rose (ENG), 17. Sergio Garcia (SPA), 18. Hunter Mahan (USA), 19. Ian Poulter (ENG), 20. Paul Casey (ENG).

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