NEC victory signals year of change for Darren Clarke
IN: News | US PGA | NEC Invitational (2003) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 25 Aug 2003
Darren Clarke highlighted the benefit of recent changes that he has made to his game and the people around him when he took out the WGC NEC event in Akron, Ohio this morning.
Clarke's recent changes include his coach and his caddy and along with attitudinal changes, the benefits are now starting to kick in. Earlier this year he finished his working relationship with coach Peter Cowen and returned to working with Butch Harmon.
"I think the world of Peter, but I found myself getting too technical. I'm playing a bit more in the States this year, so that will make seeing Butch easier."
The other significant change in personnel was to engage J.P Fitzgerald as his new caddie. Fitzgerald, who had worked for Paul McGinley until recently, replaces Clarke's long time caddy and one of the most respected in the business Billy Foster.
Another recent change Clarke has made is in equipment, taking up a contract with TaylorMade after being a free agent for some time. Clarke admitted that it can be dangerous being a free agent in terms of equipment out there as there are just too many temptations and you end up trying everything that is thrown at you on a driving range. Attitudinal changes for Clarke have come via the influence of Bob Rotella.
"Bob told me that I should be a lot more patient on the course" said Clarke "and wait for things to happen instead of trying to force them which had been my problem."
His win in this week's NEC event signals the elevation of Clarke to the level that most felt he would have been at earlier in his career. He has occasionally threatened in the majors with top tens in all four, including a runner up and third placing at the British Open, but there has always been the feeling that his frustration on course was stopping him from going on to win. It may just be that this is the start of something that will lead to a major win before too long for the thirty five year old from Northern Ireland.
He won by four over Jonathan Kaye and by five over Davis Love. Chris Riley and Tiger Woods tied for fourth, one shot behind Love, Vijay Singh, Robert Allenby and Jim Furyk were tied for sixth, highlighting that a quality course produces a quality leaderboard.
Woods who had won the last three times the event was played here, looked threatening when he got within two of Clarke at the turn but bogeys on the twelfth and thirteenth put paid to any chance he may have had.
Allenby, who like Clarke has had a personnel change in recent weeks including his coach and caddy, did well in a week of turmoil to finish 6th. He dropped two shots late which would prove costly but then so did many of the field as Firestone's tough finish claimed victims.
Of the other Australasians, Peter Lonard finally produced a good last round after a struggle on Sundays of late, with his closing 66. He finished in 23rd place. Steve Allan was 46th along with Stuart Appleby, Craig Parry and Adam Scott 64th, Stephen Leaney 71st and Jarrod Moseley 82nd.
The USPGA Tour now heads to the Boston for the new event, the Deutsche Bank Championship.
