General / Editor / 08 February 2007 /

Darren Clarke has spoken of his determination to climb back up the world rankings after falling out of the top 50 for the first time in over 12 years

Clarke missed a sizeable chunk of 2006 following the death of his wife Heather from cancer but dropped to 51st after finishing tied 20th at the Dubai Desert Classic.
"Due to my lack of events last year, it was not important to me what was going on but now I want to get back in there.

"I can only do that by playing again and competing," said the 38-year-old.
Clarke will on Thursday begin his quest by taking part in the Maybank Malaysian Open for the first time since 1999 when he missed the cut at Saujana Golf and Country Club.
"If I play well I will go up the rankings and I will play whatever events I can," he added.
"The reason I have gone to 51 is because I haven't played and there is nothing I can do about that.

"It's not through poor golf that I have gone down the rankings."
Clarke, who ended the first day on a disappointing +2 after a round of 74, can be backed at 55 to land the event, while Thailand's defending champions Thongchai Jaidee (-1) is the market favourite at 8.2.

England's Robert Rock, who leads after the opening round on -6, is trading at 15 while Alistair Forsyth of Scotland is available at 24 after a three-under par round of 69.

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