Fansided

Darren Clarke withdraws from The Player’s Championship

By Will Osgood

May 7, 2015; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; Darren Clarke hits his tee shot on the 6th hole during the first round of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass - Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2015; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; Darren Clarke hits his tee shot on the 6th hole during the first round of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass - Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Veteran Darren Clarke has withdrawn from The Player’s Championship due to a wrist injury. 

2011 British Open champion and fan favorite Darren Clarke has withdrawn from the 2015 Player’s Championship due to a wrist injury he suffered on the tournament’s opening day, as he was warming up on the driving range.

Clarke, 46, managed to open his round, playing the first 11 holes in 10-over, including two double bogeys and another triple.

More from Golf

After 11 holes, perhaps sensing he was already out of the running, and not wanting to further injure himself or deal with what was likely excruciating pain, Clarke chose to tell tournament officials he was done for the tournament, at which time he made it known the injury was first sustained earlier on the range.

This was just Clarke’s third appearance on the PGA Tour–his first two being a missed cut at the Shell Houston Open and a tie for 52nd at The Master’s in April. It was only because of his 2011 win which Clarke was afforded the opportunity to play at TPC Sawgrass this week.

Unfortunately he was unable to take advantage of the opportunity. But the reality is, even if healthy, it would have been quite the tall task for the Northern Ireland native.

He entered the action as the 487th best player in the world according to the Official World Golf Rankings. Contrast that against Rory McIlroy, who grew up admiring Clarke, the world’s No. 1 player or 21-year-old green jacket winner Jordan Spieth, the No. 2  player in the world.

Speaking of the top two players, they opened in much different fashion Thursday, though both went out early. McIlroy finished with a solid 69 (-3), good for a tie for fifth-place at the time of writing. Meanwhile, Spieth shot a not so pretty 75 (+3), meaning he must put in some hearty work Friday to simply make the cut.

Hideki Matsuyama started out quite well, shooting a 67 (-5) to pace the field on the first day. Americans Troy Merrit, Ben Martin and Billy Horschel finished one shot behind the Japanese native at -4.

The Player’s Championship is often thought of as “the fifth major”, and as such pays out the best of all all the non-major events, and attracts every notable golfer in the sport who is able to earn a spot in the event.

It doesn’t hurt that TPC Sawgrass is among the most beautiful and difficult courses in the country. No. 17 is a legendary hole, which will undoubtedly shape this year’s tournament as it does most every year.

Next: You can bet on who will date Tiger Woods next

More from Golf

Home/Golf