Clarke 2020: "The Irish Open should be on a links"

Darren Clarke

Paul McGinley will host next year’s Irish Open in Lahinch and Darren Clarke would love to remain on a links course if predictions come true and he gets his turn in 2020.

While Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy will also host between 2020 and 2023, Clarke admitted yesterday he's the likely host in two years’ time.

“It may be me the time after Paul and I have preferences on where I’d like to go but that would have to be agreed by the sponsor and the tour, so we shall see," said Clarke, who turns 50 on August 14 and plans to make his PGA Tour Champions debut in the Boeing Classic in Seattle from August 24-26. 

“But I am a firm believer that the Irish Open should be on a links. 

"While I love The K Club and parklands like Killarney and all those places, a links would be my favourite.

“But not every course can host it and provide all the space that’s needed so we shall have to wait and see what happens.”

As a resident of Portrush, which hosts the Open next year, Clarke might like to have the event in his own back yard but it remains to be seen if the R&A, which does not allow venues like Carnoustie to host the Scottish Open, will play ball and allow the European Tour to take the Irish Open back to the Dunluce.

As for his game, after shooting rounds of 75 and 76 with miss the cut by six strokes, he knows he has work to do to get his game ready for The Open and his senior tour bow next month.

"I'm looking forward to it but I haven't played an awful lot of golf," Clarke said. "I was injured for Wentworth and I've picked up a few niggles so I haven't played an awful lot. So I've been working on everything but the difference is when you have a card in your hand. I am just making stupid mistakes at the moment.

"The scoring on the seniors tour is incredible at the minute but I have "

Parklands are coming back

Darren Clarke might prefer a links but Dubai Duty Free boss Colm McLoughlin believes it’s only a matter of time before a parkland course hosts the Irish Open again.

The Galway native has been blown away by Ballyliffin and can’t wait to see Paul McGinley host at Lahinch after Rory McIlroy’s four-year stint ends tomorrow.

But he’s not sure the links swing will continue, even if Dubai Duty Free generates $160 million in media exposure through its sponsorship, which will continue until 2020 with an option for two more years.

He said: "It seems at the moment that it is kind of locked into links courses although that’s not written down anywhere – but it seems to be the practice.

“I think it might go away from that in the future and there are some terrific courses – including The K Club – that would be a very good venue for it. 

"But I keep on hearing wonderful things about Adare Manor which has been rebuilt. And the one in Kilkenny, Mount Juliet.  

"And I have heard talk for a long time about Portmarnock and whenever whatever problems are there sorted out, it might go there.

"I would like to see it in the middle of the country – where people can come from everywhere.

"The new rota of hosts has worked well with the British Masters, I'm told and while I don't think the order after Paul has been decided, word seems to be spreading that it might be Darren next."

McIlroy driven to distraction by snappers

Snap-happy photographers drove Rory McIlroy to distraction in yesterday's second round.

The Holywood ace (29) was forced to ask photographers not to take pictures while his playing partners were playing and several times had to back off his own shots.

Add to that the dozens of fans taking pictures on their phones and it all became a bit much at times.

He said: "It is a little bit (or a distraction) when you have to back off shots and it disrupts your routine. It is what it is.

"I wish people would consume their golf a bit more through their eyes than through the lens of a camera. But it's the modern world and we have to deal with it."

Rory likes his wedge

Rory McIlroy might feel he's playing conservatively at Ballyliffin but he still hit wedges on 22 of his approach shots over the first two rounds.

The four-time major winner used wedges 12 times in his opening 70 before drawing one of his four wedges 10 times in yesterday's one-over 73.

It doesn't sound likely he will throw caution to the wind over the weekend given the thick rough and bunkers and hit more than the seven drivers he used yesterday.

Insisting he can't see himself going for broke, he said: "It is hard to resist because I like to hit the driver as much as possible. But sometimes it's just not worth it.

"Out here, there are a lot of angles off tees and doglegs and it's much better to hit an iron in the fairway.

“If you are aggressive off the tee like I was on the eighth hole and you just hit it offline, you can end up in some deep stuff."

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