Clarke tired but hopeful after claiming Open crown

Darren Clarke is still weary after the hectic aftermath of claiming his first major title last month at the British Open, but has hope he could win the PGA Championship on his 43rd birthday. "I've got to go to the range and work on my ball striking and hopefully get that back to a level where I can control my ball flight," Clarke said. "If I can do that I will see how good my best is this week. "My expectations are pretty even keel. If I can play my best, my best is good enough to contend and to win. And if I don't play my best, I'm trying as hard as I can." The Northern Irishman's emotional triumph at Royal St. Georges after years of seeking a major breakthrough saw him take time for a major celebration, one he figures to duplicate should he pull off a shocker this week at Atlanta Athletic Club. "It would be very special," Clarke said. "I may go AWOL for a few days like I did the last time." Aside from major differences in the style of course and a sweltering heat for this week's event, Clarke finds himself having had no time for rest since winning the Claret Jug but feeling no extra pressure because of his triumph. "I would like to think it hasn't changed me at all, hope it won't and I don't think it will," Clarke said. "All I will say is that I'm still a bit tired. I've had no time off since the Open so I will be looking forward to a couple weeks off after this week. "I haven't played well since mainly due to the fact that I have not had any time off." Clarke tees off Thursday afternoon with fellow 2011 major champions Charl Schwartzel, the Masters winner from South Africa, and Rory McIlroy, the US Open champion also from Northern Ireland. "The heat is going to be a massive, massive factor this week," Clarke warned while adding with a laugh that "I'm such a finely tuned athlete so it should not affect me that much." "The heat is going to be tough for everybody. I've got to drink an awful lot of fluids and keep focused on what I'm doing." Clarke, still getting messages from the 40-and-over set who saw his triumph as inspirational, said the big lesson he learned from finally winning a major was patience, on the course and in pursuit of such goals. "Patience and to never give up, that's what it taught me," Clarke said. "I was very patient the whole week, of which I have not been that often in the past. "You never know what the game is going to give you. You never know what is just around the corner. Just never give up, keep going. Keep going. That's what it taught me."