Darren Clarke looking to recapture end of season form at Dubai Desert Classic

Although the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the third and final tournament of the European Tour's "Desert Swing," begins next Thursday, there will be various players looking to get their games in shape after playing poorly in either Qatar or Abu Dhabi.  Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie, Scott Jamieson, Jeev Milkha Singh, Niclas Fasth, Edoardo Molinari, Thomas Levet, and Kristoffer Broberg have not made a halfway cut in 2013's two full-field events.

*Note: The first tournament of 2013, the Volvo Golf Champions, was a limited-field, no cut event. 

Darren Clarke: Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship- MC (+10)

All signs were pointing up when Clarke posted his best results, a tied-22nd in Thailand and a tied-8th in Australia, since his 2011 Open Championship victory.  Those events were at the back end of 2012.  Unfortunately, he hasn't carried the form into 2013. He's now down to 154th in the world rankings.  The reason that he took his name out of the running for the European Ryder Cup captaincy was because he wanted to focus on trying to take advantage of the next three years of his majors exemption courtesy of his Open Championship win.  Also, he feels like he has the opportunity to play in one more Ryder Cup, presumably at Gleneagles in 2014.  He will almost certainly be named the 2016 Ryder Cup Captain at Hazeltine, so these next two years may be his final years competing at a high level.  As with many other players, he's working incredibly hard on all facets of his game, but he's not seeing the results just yet, at least not on a consistent basis.  Putting is his main concern.  Last season, he averaged 31.03 putts per round (181st on Tour).  Worse enough, his stroke average was 72.83 (182nd on Tour).  He's had average success on the Emirates course in recent seasons, with a 20th-place being his best finish in his last five appearances.  It's imperative that he has a productive week because playing opportunities will be scarce due to his position in the world rankings.  The Dubai Desert Classic might be his last tournament, at least on the European Tour, until the Masters (week of April 11th). 

My projection: I believe Darren Clarke will finish inside the top-30 in Dubai.          

Recent worldwide results ("Desert Swing" excluded):

Volvo Golf Champions- T22
Australian PGA Championship- T8
Thailand Golf Championship- T22
BMW Masters- T63
Portugal Masters- MC

Recent results at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic (Emirates Golf Club):

2011- 48th (+1)
2010- 27th (-2)
2009- 54th (+1)
2008- 103rd (MC)
2007- 20th (-9)   

World rankings by country: Italy

Golfers from Italy in the top-500 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Francesco Molinari: 30th
Matteo Manassero: 44th
Alessandro Tadini: 226th
Edoardo Molinari: 235th
Lorenzo Gagli: 243rd
Andrea Pavan: 382nd
Marco Crespi: 392nd

Total golfers in top-500: 7

World rankings by country: Germany

Golfers from Germany in the top-500 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Martin Kaymer: 28th
Marcel Siem: 60th
Maximilian Kieffer: 366th
Alex Cjeka: 493rd

Total golfers in top-500: 4

World rankings by country: Denmark

Golfers from Denmark in the top-500 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Thomas Bjorn: 45th
Thorbjorn Olesen: 50th
Anders Hansen: 61st
Soren Kjeldsen: 158th
Joachim B Hansen: 223rd
Andreas Harto: 279th
Morten Orum Madsen: 364th

Total golfers in top-500: 7

World rankings by country: Sweden

Golfers from Sweden in the top-500 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Peter Hanson: 19th
Carl Pettersson: 32nd
Henrik Stenson: 53rd
Alex Noren: 56th
Fredrik Jacobson: 62nd
Jonas Blixt: 74th
Kristoffer Broberg: 79th
Fredrik Andersson Hed: 88th
Robert Karlsson: 121st
Magnus A Carlsson: 180th
David Lingmerth: 237th
Joel Sjoholm: 273rd
Johan Edfors: 301st
Daniel Chopra: 304th
Mikael Lundberg: 343rd
Rikard Karlberg: 364th
Pelle Edberg: 378th
Bjorn Akesson: 396th
Christian Nilsson: 424th

Total players in top-500: 19

World rankings by country: France

Golfers from France in the top-500 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Raphael Jacquelin: 119th
Victor Dubuisson: 132nd
Gregory Bourdy: 163rd
Romain Wattel: 168th
Julien Quesne: 188th
Thomas Levet: 207th
Gregory Havret: 233rd
Alexandre Kaleka: 286th
Gary Stal: 325th
Benjamin Hebert: 415th
Jean-Baptiste Gonnet: 428th

Total golfers in top-500: 11

World rankings by country: Countries with three or less in top-500

Golfers from Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Finland in the top-500 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL): 36th
Bernd Wiesberger (AUT): 65th
Joost Luiten (NED): 108th
Espen Kofstad (NOR): 191st
Ricardo Santos (POR): 277th
Mikko Korhonen (FIN): 347th
Mikko Ilonen (FIN): 354th
Robert-Jan Derksen (NED): 401st
Tim Sluiter (NED): 419th
Roope Kakko (FIN): 487th

Total golfers in top-500: 10

World rankings by country: Ireland and Northern Ireland

Golfers from Ireland and Northern Ireland in the top-500 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Rory McIlroy (NIR): 1st
Graeme McDowell (NIR): 15th
Shane Lowry (IRL): 52nd
Padraig Harrington (IRL): 59th
Michael Hoey (NIR): 138th
Darren Clarke (NIR): 145th
Peter Lawrie (IRL): 155th
Paul McGinley (IRL): 292nd
Damien McGrane (IRL): 351st

Total golfers in top-500: 9

World ranking by country: Wales

Golfers from Wales in the top-500 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Jamie Donaldson: 47th
Rhys Davies: 386th
Phillip Price: 478th
Bradley Dredge: 496th

Total golfers in top-500: 4

World rankings by country: Scotland

Golfers from Scotland in the top-500 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Paul Lawrie: 29th
Richie Ramsay: 57th
Martin Laird: 71st
Stephen Gallacher: 98th
Scott Jamieson: 101st
Marc Warren: 182nd
David Drysdale: 217th
Chris Doak: 230th
Peter Whiteford: 324th
Russell Knox: 328th
Scott Henry: 381st
Craig Lee: 409th
Raymond Russell: 450th
George Murray: 469th
Gary Orr: 492nd

Total golfers in top-500: 15

World rankings by country: England

Golfers from England in the top-500 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Luke Donald: 2nd
Justin Rose: 4th
Lee Westwood: 7th
Ian Poulter: 12th
David Lynn: 46th
Simon Dyson: 63rd
Danny Willett: 93rd
Ross Fisher: 94th
Robert Rock: 104th
Paul Casey: 122nd
Brian Davis: 136th
Chris Wood: 139th
Mark Foster: 173rd
Lee Slattery: 176th
Steve Webster: 209th
Anthony Wall: 210th
Greg Owen: 214th
Simon Wakefield: 227th
James Morrison: 231st
Richard Finch: 245th
David Howell: 258th
Matthew Baldwin: 272nd
Tom Lewis: 275th
Tommy Fleetwood: 276th
Gary Lockerbie: 289th
Sam Little: 305th
Gary Christian: 307th
Eddie Pepperell: 322nd
Gary Boyd: 331st
David Horsey: 332nd
Graeme Storm: 336th
Chris Paisley: 337th
Oliver Fisher: 357th
James Busby: 359th
Richard Bland: 368th
Sam Walker: 371st
Phillip Archer: 379th
Andy Sullivan: 394th
Robert Coles: 404th
Daniel Brooks: 410th
Chris Lloyd: 422nd
Seve Benson: 468th
Simon Khan: 470th
Oliver Wilson: 482nd
Kenneth Ferrie: 499th

Total golfers in top-500: 45

World rankings by country: Spain

Golfers from Spain in the top-500 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Sergio Garcia: 16th
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano: 33rd
Miguel Angel Jimenez: 54th
Rafa Cabrera-Bello: 58th
Pablo Larrazabal: 85th
Alvaro Quiros: 90th
Eduardo De la Riva: 185th
Alejandro Canizares: 208th
Javier Colomo: 395th
Jorge Campillo: 397th
Ignacio Garrido: 398th
Jose Manuel Lara: 399th
Jose Maria Olazabal: 431st
Carlos del Moral: 495th

Total golfers in top-500: 14

Predicting the 2014 U.S. and European Ryder Cup Teams

2014 Ryder Cup (PGA Centenary Course, Gleneagles Hotel; Perthshire, Scotland) September 26-28

U.S. Captain: Tom Watson (already announced)
European Captain: Paul McGinley

U.S. Team

1. Tiger Woods
2. Phil Mickelson
3. Bubba Watson
4. Dustin Johnson
5. Zach Johnson
6. Webb Simpson
7. Keegan Bradley
8. Jim Furyk
9. Steve Stricker
10. Hunter Mahan
11. Jason Dufner
12. Rickie Fowler

Outside looking in: Possible Ryder Cup Rookies

Nick Watney
Kyle Stanley
Bud Cauley
Harris English
John Huh
Robert Garrigus
Bill Haas

Outside looking in: Former Ryder Cuppers

Brandt Snedeker
Matt Kuchar
Davis Love III
David Toms
Justin Leonard

Analysis of U.S. Team

The American team will come to Gleneagles hungry and motivated as ever to win the Cup on foreign soil for the first time since 1993 at the Belfry. Ironically, Tom Watson was the captain of that team. Watson was the perfect choice because he was the last U.S. captain to win away from home and he's an excellent leader. Another point of consideration is the fact that he's a hallowed figure in the U.K. due to his Open Championship success, winning five Claret Jugs. He will be extremely thorough in knowing every knook and cranny of the PGA Centenary Course. His players will respond to him unlike any other captain.

In terms of the players that will accompany Watson to Scotland, there won't be much change from the 2012 team. Tiger, Phil, Bubba, "DJ," Dufner, Simpson, Zach Johnson, Furyk, Stricker, and Keegan Bradley will travel to Perthshire eager to avenge Europe's "Miracle at Medinah." However, as with every team, there will be some new faces, but certainly ones who are used to the pressures of an away match. Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan, both members of the 2010 team in Wales, will regain their places in Watson's team after being left out of the 2012 team.

Many of you might be saying: 'How can you leave Kuchar and Snedeker out?' There are always players who go through slumps or just have an off-year or two. Kuchar, outside of his Player's Championship victory, didn't have that great of a season and probably wouldn't have made Davis Love's team without that win. Snedeker won the Farmers Insurance Open and the Tour Championship, in addition to the season-long FedEx Cup in what was an incredible 2012. However, no former FedEx Cup champion has made it back to the Tour Championship the next season. Unfortunately for "Sneds" and "Kuch," they were the odd-men out in my prediction of the team. I think they can make the team, but I just feel like Mahan and Fowler will be more consistent over the qualification period.

European Team

1. Rory McIlroy
2. Luke Donald
3. Justin Rose
4. Paul Lawrie
5. Ian Poulter
6. Lee Westwood
7. Graeme McDowell
8. Peter Hanson
9. Fransesco Molinari
10. Padraig Harrington
11. Martin Kaymer
12. Sergio Garcia

Outside looking in: Possible Ryder Cup Rookies

Thorbjorn Olesen
Shane Lowry
Matteo Manassero
Anders Hansen
Jamie Donaldson
Robert Rock
Simon Dyson
Danny Willett
Rafa Cabrera-Bello
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano
Bernd Wiesberger
Richie Ramsay
Stephen Gallacher
Scott Jamieson
Martin Laird (must become a European Tour member in order to earn qualification points)
Marcel Siem
Joost Luiten
Michael Hoey
Raphael Jacquelin
Alex Noren
Kristoffer Broberg

Outside looking in: Former Ryder Cuppers

Nicolas Colsaerts
Ross Fisher
Henrik Stenson
Paul Casey
Darren Clarke (possible 2014 captain)
Miguel Angel Jimenez
Thomas Bjorn
Jose Maria Olazabal
Colin Montgomerie (possible 2014 captain)
Edoardo Molinari
Robert Karlsson

Analysis of European Team

There are three candidates for the captaincy in 2014: Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke, and Colin Montgomerie. If the European Tour Committee follows through on their prior criteria, "Monty" would be left out due to his previous captaincy in 2010 at Celtic Manor. Really, either Irishman would make an excellent captain, but I feel that McGinley would be the ideal choice for 2014. McGinley has played on three winning-Ryder Cup teams, captained two victorious Great Britain & Ireland Seve Trophy teams, and has been an assistant captain on the past two Ryder Cup teams. He's someone who was born to be a Ryder Cup captain. The only thing that may prevent him from being captain in 2014 is his playing credentials don't measure up to Clarke's. Clarke, on the other hand, still has ambitions of playing on the team in 2014, having been encouraged by his strong finishes in his final two events of 2012. The 2011 Open Champion is the more popular player and would be the ideal captain in the U.S. in 2016. The American fans love him and he may find it easier than McGinley to deal with being an away captain. In the end, I believe McGinley is the perfect choice for 2014 and Clarke should plan on being captain in 2016. Either way, Ireland should be getting its first ever Ryder Cup captain.

In terms of the team, I believe 11 out of the 12 from the last Ryder Cup team will be at Gleneagles. Obviously, with injuries and poor play, this could drastically change but, at this moment, that's the team I see. I'm not saying that that's the team I would like to see. I would like to see a number of Scots in the team (Lawrie, Ramsay, Laird, Gallacher, Jamieson, Montgomerie) and a few of the oldies (Clarke, Jimenez, Olazabal, Bjorn, McGinley), but we'll have to see how this plays out. I certainly don't want another situation like Wales had in 2010, when there wasn't a Welshman competing. I can see anywhere from one to four Scots in the team; I am certain that every Scottish golfer will be giving his all for these two years in order to play in front of their home fans at Gleneagles.

It was tough deciding who, if any, wouldn't make the trip to Gleneagles after playing on Olazabal's team in 2012. It's highly unlikely that all 12 members will be competing in the 2014 contest, but I decided to drop Colsaerts in favor of Harrington. Colsaerts has joined the PGA Tour for the 2013 season, in addition to remaining a member of the European Tour. I just don't know how he'll adjust to playing both tours after just recently finally playing to his potential. Harrington, who seems to have taken care of his swing changes, closed the season with encouraging results and will be looking to get back into the 2014 team after missing out last year. He had played in every Ryder Cup since 1999. He'll be extremely motivated and it all begins with him getting back into the top-50. The top-50 of the world golf rankings are eligible for all four Majors (Harrington is exempt until after this season courtesy of his 2008 PGA Championship victory), World Golf Championships, and limited-field events such as the Player's, the Memorial, and the Volvo World Matchplay Championship. The fact that Harrington did not play in one WGC in 2012 hurt his chances of making the team. In WGC's, there's no cut and players are guaranteed Ryder Cup points. He'll be looking to get back to where he was in 2007-2008, where he made it to number three in the world rankings; at present, he's ranked 59th in the world.

Prediction

Europe retains the Cup, 15.5-12.5