DUBAI, March 5: A new driver and ball have helped Darren Clarke launch his season in confident mood but he plans to learn as much as he can when he tees off with Ernie Els in the Dubai Desert Classic’s opening round on Thursday.

Els, the defending champion, is the hottest player in the game, having won four times in six starts this year and Clarke has been hugely impressed with the South African’s rhythm.

“Ernie’s playing fantastic,” Clarke told a news conference at the Emirates Golf Club on Wednesday. “His rhythm is tremendous — the way he walks, the way he swings, everything. He’s so much within himself.

“To go out with the number two player in the world, I’ll certainly be watching him, trying to pick up anything I can learn.”

The pair are set to tee off at 0400 GMT on Thursday, along with India’s Arjun Atwal who won last month’s Malaysian Open.

Ulsterman Clarke linked up with Els to win the Jebel Ali Challenge on Tuesday, both players astounding those watching by consistently unleashing huge drives of more than 300 yards.

Clarke says he is driving the ball a good 20 yards further than ever before, a result of switching to a new driver and golf ball at the start of the year.

“I’m swinging better, as well,” he said. “The equipment and the ball that I have at the moment, it’s a result of all that. I’m an awful lot more confident now instead of worrying about what side of the fairway.”

Clarke displayed impressive form at last week’s WGC World Match Play Championship in Carlsbad, California, although he was annoyed with himself after losing to Australia’s Peter Lonard by two holes in the quarter-finals after he was three-up at one stage. —Reuters