DUBAI, UAE, 16 January 2004 — European No. 2 Darren Clarke’s new health regime has seen him get off to a flying start to the season and the big Irishman is hoping it will pay off as he shapes up in his attempts to lift the 2004 Dubai Desert Classic.
Always a crowd favorite, Clarke yesterday has become the latest big-name star to sign up for the $2 million event following his third place in the Mercedes Championship in Hawaii on Sunday. And Clarke, who finished ahead of both Dubai-bound Tiger Woods and Ernie Els in Maui, is hoping his new approach to the game will reap the benefits. So far 30 pounds have dropped from the Ulsterman’s frame thanks to a health regime which has seen him give up smoking since joining the 2004 PGA Tour.
Clarke has confirmed he will line up at the Dubai Aluminum (DUBAL) — sponsored Dubai Desert Classic from March 4-7 at the Emirates Golf Club.
After deciding at the end of last year that he needed to lose weight in order to compete, the fun-loving world number 12 worked diligently with the help of a trainer — and with the encouragement of fitness fanatic Woods — to get the weight off. And for the final sacrifice, he has given up smoking.
“From New Year’s Day, I decided to try and give up smoking. I’ve managed it so far and I’ll keep on trying to stay off them. The opening round in Hawaii last Friday was my first-ever competitive round, I think, without having any nicotine in my body. I don’t know what’s going on really,” laughed Clarke. Four years ago, Clarke became the first European to win one of the World Golf Championships (WGC) events, capturing the $1 million first prize in the World Match Play Championship, beating David Duval in the semifinal and Tiger Woods in the final. Last year, the 35-year-old from Dungannon became only the second man after Woods to win two WGC events with victory in the WGC-NEC Invitational — a win that helped him to second place in the PGA European Tour Order of Merit.
