A rejuvenated Darren Clarke will prove once again that his desire for competitive golf is as strong as ever when he makes his debut in this week’s Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open at the Cengkareng Golf Club in Jakarta.
The 39 year old Northern Irishman has rediscovered his appetite for the game after his well documented troubles off the course in 2006 and a poor year on it in 2007 and, with the bit between his teeth, is ready to add the co-sanctioned tournament with the Asian Tour to his ever-growing travelogue.
“It was a long time ago that I was this enthusiastic,” he admitted. “I’ve always been keen but now I am working harder than I have ever worked and spending more time on my game than I have ever done.”
Part of that is with Sky Television commentator and coach Ewen Murray on the range in addition to sessions with renowned mind coach Karl Morris off of it, and the Ulsterman admitted that the combination is working in his attempt to climb back up both the Official World Golf Ranking and The European Tour Order of Merit.
“I am getting happier now and starting to smile on the golf course again,” he said. “I’m also more comfortable on the golf course than I have been for some time. I am just hungry to be in contention again. I haven’t been there for the last few years for obvious reasons and I want to get myself up there again because I think there are a lot more wins in me.
“My boys are doing great at home too and they are happy for me to get out there playing. They want to see me doing well and it’s nice to call them after a tournament and for them to say ‘Well done Daddy.’ I’m getting there.”
Five-time Ryder Cup player Clarke will headline the field but he will face a strong challenge in his quest for an 11th European Tour International Schedule title, both from his fellow European Tour Members and the Asian contingent.
Leading The European Tour charge will be defending champion Mikko Ilonen who became the first Finnish golfer to win on Tour when he triumphed in the tournament 12 months ago.
It proved the catalyst for a superb 2007 for the 28 year old from Lahti who went on to prove his growing maturity in the game with a second victory in the Scandinavian Masters at Arlandastad Golf in Stockholm in August, on his way to a career-high 34th on the Order of Merit.
Although Ilonen will be the defending champion, it will not be at the golf course when he claimed his maiden European title – the Damai Indah Golf and Country Club – for this year’s tournament has moved across Jakarta to the Cengkareng Golf Club, the venue where Thaworn Wiratchant won the first co-sanctioned Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open in March 2005.
