Clarke’s Ryder Cup memories
Two best...
1
The first tee at the KClub in 2006, for obvious reasons [it was six weeks after his first wife, Heather, had died]. I didn’t know where I was going to hit it, if I was going to make contact or hit the ground. It went straight down the middle.
2
Lee Westwood and I played against the world No1 and No2 on three different occasions and we won each time. We triumphed at Brookline in 1999 against Tiger Woods and David Duval. We won 1up on the 18th hole. That was very emotional.
and two worst...
1
When Nick Faldo didn’t pick me for Valhalla in 2008, I was gutted. I had won twice that season and just two weeks before I thought I had a good chance of getting it. But the bottom line is if you are not one of the nine automatic qualifiers, you are at the mercy of the captain’s decision. If you have not qualified by right, your position is subjective. Nick called me and said, ‘Darren I am sorry, I have decided not to pick you and I have decided to go with a couple of others.’ That was fine. Every captain has to make tough calls but I have no problem with him over that.
2
To be on the losing team at Brookline in 1999. Lee and I went out No1 and No2 on the final day and we both lost. It was overlooked how well the Americans played. Losing from a commanding position was a disappointing end to a week playing under a good captain, Mark ‘Jesse’ James.