Darren Clarke's win in the English Open may have led to a shift in emphasis in his tournament aspirations, most pertinently for next week's US Open at Pinehurst, but it hasn't led him to reconsider his position with regard to competing in the Murphy's Irish Open at Druids Glen next month. As things stand, Clarke hasn't entered the tournament and, according to his manager Chubby Chandler, is unlikely to do so before the official closing date on Thursday week.

Instead, Clarke's focus is very much towards the two majors which take place inside the next six weeks, the US Open and the British Open. On Friday next, the 30-year-old Irishman, back to 17th (from 26th) in the official world rankings after his English Open win at Hanbury Manor on Sunday, flies out to America to begin his preparations for a test that is far more appealing to him now than it was just a few weeks ago.

"I wasn't particularly looking forward to going to the US Open," said Clarke, "but now I am. My game has clicked into place again over the past few weeks, and I'm striking the ball so much better. I'm hitting a lot of fairways, so I am just looking forward to getting back over there." It will be Clarke's seventh major in the States and he heads off confident that he can at least emulate his achievement in finishing eighth in last year's US Masters.

Clarke's previous US Open appearances were in 1996 (missed cut), 1997 (tied-43rd) and 1998 (tied-43rd) but he is particularly looking forward to playing at Pinehurst, in North Carolina, a course which is traditionally ranked in the top-five in any world ratings. "From what I've heard, it is a bit of a Sunningdale-Wentworth type of course, so it should suit me. In fact, it should suit most of the Europeans. How they set it up, of course, is anybody's guess. We'll have to wait and see."

He will discover soon enough the way that it has been set up, but advance warning is that the greens are expected to be up to a speed of 12 on the stimpmeter which will obviously place a premium on putting and approach play. However, Clarke is far happier with his putting since acquiring a new Scotty Cameron putter that is heavier than his old one and also has a smaller shaft.

Clarke and stable-mate Lee Westwood are due to play Pine Valley on Saturday and Sunday before flying down to Pinehurst on Monday when they are expected to play nine-holes, followed two full rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Clarke is also set to meet up with Butch Harmon, Tiger Woods's coach, for a fine-tuning session on Tuesday. "I'll see Butch okay but I guess Tiger will probably get some more of his time than me. I get on fine with Tiger - he was there at Butch's facility any time I was there," said Clarke.

Harmon's role with the Irish golfer has worked out exceptionally well, but Clarke's manager Chandler reckons it works because the Las Vegas-based golfing guru is as much a counsellor as a technical coach. "He tends to offer Darren reassurance, just telling him what he is already thinking himself," said Chandler. "He is as much a psychologist, and he has certainly helped Darren's confidence."

Chandler himself believes that Clarke has matured and that the tough start to the season was part of that process. "Do you know, there wasn't one time on Sunday when I felt that Darren was going to lose that tournament," he claimed, adding: "He has worked so hard at his game, and that is why he has got to the level he is at."

While Clarke's win at Hanbury Manor was his fifth European Tour success, it came after a trying few months in which he had struggled to regain the form that saw him finish second to Colin Montgomerie on last year's Order of Merit. "I won't be taking nine weeks off, ever again," said Clarke of the time that he put away his clubs over the winter months. "That was a mistake. I'm not the type of player who can do that - and once you make a mistake, it is important to learn from it."

Did he ever despair? "I'm always up and down, like a yoyo. That's me. But I'm fortunate to have a very good, solid foundation around me - Heather (his wife), Chubby (Chandler), Billy (Foster, his caddie) and Butch (Harmon). They were always positive, and that helped me a lot."

Clarke's absence from the Irish Open remains a pity - but the dispute that centred on John Daly's appearance at Druids Glen because of promotional money that the American is receiving (to promote the club in the States) has been given a new twist by his decision to play in the Loch Lomond Invitational where no such financial inducements are offered.

Daly has confirmed he will be competing in Loch Lomond the week after he plays in the Irish Open at Druids Glen on July 1st-4th.

Meanwhile, only three Irish players are in action in this week's European Tour event - the German Open at the Sporting Club in Berlin, a course designed by Nick Faldo.

Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington resume on tour after taking a week off last week, while Philip Walton, in dire need of making a few cuts if he is to retain his tour card, continues his quest to discover some form.

Irish places in Order of Merit: 9th, D Clarke €270,584 (St£193,274); 17th, P Harrington €200,547 (St£143,247); 21st, P McGinley €180,412 (St£128,865); 76th, E Darcy €64,738 (St£46,241); 91st, D Smyth €52,153 (St£37,252); 170th, P Walton €7,895 (St£5,639); 200th, J McHenry €2,712 (St£1,937).