Compiled by PHILIP REID

Clarke wears his badge of honour

The badge – number 96 – on his caddie’s white uniform told its own story.

It meant that Darren Clarke was the last of the 96 competitors in the field to register for the Masters, his late arrival due to an inability to play practice rounds – until nine holes yesterday morning as the fog lifted – after sustaining a groin strain in last week’s Houston Open.

“I feel so-so, but I’m going to try and play. It would take a lot to stop me,” said British Open champion Clarke, making his first Masters appearance since 2007 when he missed the cut.

“The groin is still sore but I haven’t had any treatment because there is nothing you can do except rest. There’s nothing else for it but to eat painkillers for the week.”

Clarke’s best finish in the Masters was his debut appearance in 1998 (when he finished tied-8th) when he was actually the first player to register.

Champion will receive lesser-known award of Champion's Medallion

Whoever wins the Masters on Sunday will reap a number of dividends, not least the green jacket and the silver trophy – not to mention the €1 million winner’s cheque – but will also be the recipient of a lesser-known award: The Champion’s Medallion.

The custom of presenting the winner with a gold medallion began with Ben Hogan’s first victory in 1951. All previous winners and those since have been given the 2.3 ounce, 14-carat gold coin which is die-struck on each side and measures 1¾ inches in diameter. The medallion features the champion’s name and year of victory on one side beneath the tournament logo.

May be a change of mind on 'lift, clean and place'

The issue of “lift, clean and place” is one that has raised its ugly head in the run-up to the start of the Masters after heavy rain – mainly at night – has left the course very soft.

The rule has never been used in the Masters, but Tiger Woods’ complaint earlier this week about picking up seven mud balls in nine holes of practice on Tuesday raised concerns.

“We surely would not want to have to do that,” said Augusta National chairman Billy Payne, “that would be a decision very difficult to make.

“However, we are also bright enough to know that weather conditions can have an impact on that, and possibly cause us to change our minds on that issue,” added Payne.

The SubAir system has been running overtime in an attempt to firm up the greens, but the main issue concerning mud balls is on tee shots finding the fairways.

Augusta chariman refuses to respond to thorny issue

The thorny issue of whether women should be allowed to join the exclusive all-male Augusta National Golf Club refuses to go away. On the eve of the Masters, chairman Billy Payne was again peppered with questions about whether the 80-year-old club would change its restrictive policy.

“Once again, that deals with a membership issue and I’m not going to answer it,” he told a news conference yesterday.

The issue of whether women should be allowed to become a member at the home of the Masters has been around for years – most notably a decade ago when Martha Burk led a series of protests – but took on added significance after Ginni Rometty was recently named chief executive officer of IBM.

IBM is a long-standing sponsor of the Masters and its past four CEOs have been granted membership to Augusta National. However, Payne refused to say whether the issue had even been discussed. “One, we don’t talk about our private deliberations,” he said.

“Number two, we especially don’t talk about it when a named candidate is a part of the question.”

Harrington's fifth leaves him top of distinguished Major pile

Darren Clarke

Best Finish: 8th (1998)

Appearances: 10

Cuts Made: 7

Rounds Played: 34

Money Won: $463,780

Scoring Avg: 73.00

Low Round: 66

High Round: 83

Rounds Under Par: 11

Pádraig Harrington

Best Finish: 5th (2002, 2008)

Appearances: 12

Cuts Made: 8

Rounds Played: 40

Money Won: $1,050,712

Scoring Avg: 72.60

Low Round: 68

High Round: 77

Rounds Under Par: 13

Graeme McDowell

Best Finish: 17th (2009)

Appearance: 4

Cuts Made: 1

Rounds Played: 10

Money Won: $141,250

Scoring Avg: 72.90

Low Round: 69

High Round: 79

Rounds Under Par: 3

Rory McIlroy

Best Finish: T15th (2011)

Appearances: 3

Cuts Made: 2

Rounds Played: 10

Money Won: $209,400

Scoring Avg: 72.10

Low Round: 65

High Round: 80

Rounds Under Par: 5