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Fri 05 May 2007Clarke a long-term doubtDarren Clarke had the look of a man who had been kicked when he was down. For the second week running, the Ulsterman's involvement in a tournament ended prematurely as the deep-rooted hamstring injury he sustained recently in a kick-about with his children yesterday forced him to withdraw from The Players early in his first round.And, as he fulfilled his final duties of signing autographs at Sawgrass for spectators blissfully unaware of his inner agonies, the reality of Clarke's plight dawned on him. His chances of being fit to play in next week's Irish Open at Adare Manor are extremely slim, and it's doubtful he'll make the following week's PGA Championship at Wentworth.