Clarke unconcerned by drop in ranking

Darren Clarke is determined to fight his way back up the world rankings after falling out of the world's top 50 for the first time in more than a dozen years.

Clarke dropped to 51st after finishing in a tie for 20th at last week's Dubai Desert Classic but the Ulsterman is not too concerned with the end of his run in the top 50.

"Due to my lack of events last year, it was not important to me what was going on. Obviously now I have dropped outside the top 50 for the first time since 1994 I want to get back in there again," said the 38-year-old, who is in Kuala Lumpur for this week's Maybank Malaysian Open.

"The only way I can do that is to start playing again and competing. Hopefully, it will take care of itself.

"If I play well I will go up the rankings and I will play whatever events I can. The reason I have gone to 51 is because I haven't played and there is nothing I can do about that.

"It's not through poor golf that I have gone down the rankings."

Nevertheless, the loss of his wife has changed Clarke's outlook and his approach to the game.

"I have to be more selective where and when I play. I plan to play when my boys are at school and not play as much when they are not at school," he said.

"There is a lot more planning going in to where I play. I'm trying to balance things up a lot more."