Clarke 6-4 to make Valhalla

Darren Clarke is 6-4 with Paddy Power to make the European Ryder Cup team after his long-awaited win at the BMW Asian Open on Sunday, his first success on the European Tour for five years.

The popular Ulsterman has jumped more than 100 places to 112th in the world rankings after his victory in Shanghai, giving himself an outside chance of gaining automatic qualification for the European team that plays the United States in Valhalla, Kentucky, in September.

The qualification process for the European team mirrors the system used by Europe for the 2004 and 2006 contests. Five players will qualify through world ranking points accrued over a 12-month period, with a further five earning places through points earned in European Tour Order of Merit tournaments.
Nick Faldo will complete the 12-man line-up by selecting two captain’s picks.

Clarke’s ability to break back into world’s top 50, and thus guarantee his place in the money-laden majors and the WGC events, is critical if he is to qualify automatically and as such his best chance of making the team remains as one of Faldo’s two selections.

Clarke won all three of his matches when accepting a wildcard for the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club, helping Europe to a record-equalling victory just six weeks after his wife had passed away.

Paddy Power offer 5-4 that Clarke wins another event on the 2008 European Tour and 14-1 that he lands the 2008 Irish Open.