Clarke looking to pick up cues for Ryder Cup

Northern Irishman hopes to learn from the sporting legends

Europe’s 2016 Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke is hoping to pick the brains of the world’s best sportsmen this week ahead of next year’s clash against the USA at Hazeltine.

The 46- year- old 2011 Open Championship winner from Northern Ireland is captaining the Rest of the World versus the USA at this week’s Ryder Cup-styled Icons Cup all- star charity golf tournament at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.

And although he admits the event is at the opposite end of the spectrum to the Ryder Cup in terms of competitiveness, he still hasn’t ruled out learning a thing or two from the experience of his teammates.

Clarke’s Rest of the World team boasts the likes of cricketers Shane Warne, Kapil Dev and Brian Lara; football’s Luis Figo, Robbie Fowler, Kenny Dalglish, Andriy Shevchenko and Dwight Yorke and rugby’s George Gregan, Brian O’Driscoll and Mike Tindall.

Team USA, captained by 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples, consists of baseball’s Tom Glavine, Ken Griffey Junior, Russ Ortiz and Greg Maddux; American football’s Marcus Allen and Eric Dickerson; ice hockey’s Mike Modano and Brett Hull; basketball’s Ray Allen and boxing’s Oscar De La Hoya.

“It’s a totally different thing,” said Clarke of the two competitions. “These are legends in their sport, not golfers, but I will be able to learn a few things from my teammates this week, not Team USA because they wouldn’t help me anyway, because it’s them I’m trying to beat next year.

“But there are some guys on my team like [ former Australian bowler Shane Warne] Warney — and with all the guys on my team, I’m sure I’ll be able to pick their brains a bit on situations they’ve been in throughout their careers.”