Golf-McIlroy looks to Clarke for how to master windy courses

KILLARNEY, Ireland, July 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Open champion
Rory McIlroy said he needs to emulate compatriot Darren Clarke
and learn how to play in windy conditions if he is to have a
better chance of adding a British Open title to his C.V. 

The 22-year-old Northern Irishman struggled in the wind and
rain of Royal St George's earlier this month and tied for 25th
place at Sandwich. 

"(British Open champion) Darren's unbelievable in the wind
and he knows how to play the right shot at the right time and
maybe if I go out and play with him I could learn," McIlroy told
reporters at the Irish Open at Killarney on Wednesday. 

"I was very frustrated coming off the course at Sandwich. I
feel as if I did get an Open championship where the weather was
quite benign I'd have a lot better chance of contending. 

"It was tough. I'm going to have to learn how to play in
those conditions, going forward. We don't really have that much
practice when it's blowing 30mph; you don't want to go out and
hit that many balls (on the range). 

"It's going to happen in the future where we have conditions
like that. You just have to deal with them as best you can." 

McIlroy lines up this week in an Irish Open field that
includes Clarke, 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and
three-times major winner Padraig Harrington. 

Before playing the pro-am with Ireland's Prime Minister Enda
Kenny, McIlroy was presented with honorary life membership of
the European Tour. Clarke, 42, also received the award from Mr
Kenny and European Tour chief executive George O'Grady. 

McIlory is the youngest to receive the award, outdoing 2010
U.S. PGA champion Martin Kaymer by three years.