Clarke - worth opposing. (Getty Images)

By Dave Tindall

Betting Box Tipping Guide

BETTING BOX
FIXED ODDS
	0.5pts buy Darren Clarke's finishing position at 34 (Sporting Index)	Clarke's decision to attack could backfire and has poor G.I.R and putting stats in US.
	0.5pts buy Kenny Perry's finishing position at 30 (Sporting Index)	Great form but terrible US Open record. Recent exploits may have left him drained.

Darren Clarke will be pinpointed by many as Europe's best hope of winning the US Open for the first time since 1970.

But I believe the big Ulsterman might not even make it to the weekend and that's why I'm a buyer of his finishing position at 34.

On the face of it Clarke's credentials are impressive. He was the early leader in the Masters, he's played some brilliant golf in patches over the last few months, he leads the US Tour's total driving stats and on his day he's a match for anyone.

But now the bad news. Clarke went on to finish tied 28th in the Masters after following his blistering early 66 with 76-78-74.

And although he's driving the ball superbly, his other US stats are a worry. He's a lowly 109th in greens in regulation and 94th in putting.

But what interests me most are his pre-tournament comments.

Clarke said on Monday: "I've tried to play sensibly in the US Open in the past.

"I want to go and be a bit more aggressive this time. I want to have a go.

"I've hit irons off the tee and it's not worked for me. I might as well go and have some fun - finishing 30th or something is a waste of time. If I try this and it doesn't come off and I'm coming home Friday night then at least I've gone out having a go."

Clarke also says of the US Open: "It's the most mentally demanding.

"And I'd have to agree that that is the part of the game I've struggled most with. It's a continual battle."

It's not hard to picture Clarke coming a cropper given those comments and if he misses the amount of putts he has been, the mental battering could take a real toll.

His US Open record isn't all bad (24,30,53,10,43,43,MC,MC) but I think he's heading for trouble if he thinks he can overpower the course.

Buy at 34.

Finishing position buying is always the most profitable strategy but perhaps even more so in a US Open.

With only the top 60 and ties guaranteed to make the cut (more get through if within 10 of the leader), a large number of the 150+ field will be heading home early.

There's a number who could be bought but, controversially, I shall also oppose in-form Kenny Perry.

Perry is the hottest player in the game at the minute and I give him full credit for those superb back-to-back wins at Colonial and Memorial.

But selling Perry at 27 in a major? No thanks. I'd much rather buy at 30.

Perry is often in the high 30s for regular events so he shouldn't be that low here.

Yes, his form is superb but Perry has a comfort zone in regular Tour events.

It may extend to the USPGA (the Major which most mirrors a normal Tour event) but the extremities of a US Open have proved beyond him.

Quite simply Perry's US Open record is abysmal. He's only actually played in six but in those events he's missed the cut twice, finished 45th or worse three times and has a best of tied 25th at Shinnecock in 1995.

And although he showed he can handle pressure by leading from the front in those two recent wins, I think it may catch up with him here.

The wheels were already starting to fall off in the Memorial where he closed with five bogeys in the last six holes. And to be honest it was hardly surprising having been under the gun for two weeks on the trot.

Perry hasn't suddenly turned into Tiger Woods so I will buy his finishing position at 30 with Sporting Index.