“The Ryder Cup
is the biggest
thing and
everybody wants
to play in it. But
where I’ve come
unstuck in the
past is that I’ve
made it the be-all and end-all.
This year I’m
treating it as
something that
happens as a
result of playing
good golf week
to week.”
EAST LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA | North-
ern Ireland’s Darren Clarke has no doubt
about his New Year’s Resolution for 2010.
— Darren Clarke
DOUGHERTY NOT FEELING GROOVY
Dougherty struggled to adapt to
the new conforming grooves that are a
condition of competition in professional
golf in his first tournament for 2010. The
ALL CROSSROADS FOR BJORN
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn has admitted to being at a crossroads in his career.
The nine-time European Tour champion, Ryder Cup player and near winner
of the 2003 Open Championship was
ranked 253rd in the world when he teed
it up in the Africa Open.
And he was clearly desperate to put
behind him a controversial 2009 in
which he clashed with Padraig Harrington and others in his role as chairman of the European Tour’s tournament committee.
“I’m at the crossroads with every-
thing,” the 38-year-old Dane said about
his refocus on tournament golf. “I’m
getting a bit older and making swing
changes to carry me through to my mid-
40s. There are a few things that need to
change and hopefully I can look forward
to a good 2010.”
He missed the cut of 5-under by three
strokes.
