Hamstring injury forces Clarke out of Masters

Darren Clarke, the 2011 British Open champion from Northern Ireland, announced he was withdrawing from the Masters on Monday after suffering a pulled hamstring while on vacation in the Bahamas. Clarke missed last week\'s US PGA Texas Open because of the injury, suffered more than a week ago on the island of Abaco. He is continuing treatment in the Bahamas and has decided on a timetable for his return to competitive golf. \"It is with deep regret that I will not be able to play at Augusta this year,\" Clarke said in a statement on his website. \"Playing in the Masters is one of golf\'s greatest pleasures and I am very disappointed to be missing out.\" Twice-a-day treatments did not bring Clarke, 44, back to fitness enough to cope with the undulating terrain of Augusta National Golf Club. Clarke\'s best result at the Masters was a share of eighth in his 1998 debut. He missed the cut last year in his 11th appearance. From: AFP