Clarke misses US Open qualifying

Clarke finished tied for second at the 1997 Open at Royal Troon

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke has chosen to miss the qualifying event for this month's US Open at Torrey Pines.

He is focusing instead on the European Tour and securing rankings points to qualify for The Open in July.

The 39-year-old needs to get back into the world's top 50 to guarantee his place at Royal Birkdale.

Clarke, a top-10 ranked player between 2000-2002, fell outside the top 200 this year, but a tie for fourth at the Wales Open moved him up to 104th.

More than 20 European Tour players withdrew from the 36-hole US Open qualfying event at Walton Heath, Surrey.

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie and Ryder Cup hopeful Graeme McDowell have also chosen not to compete and from an initial entry list of 76, 42 players will battle it out for seven places at the US Open, which begins on 12 June.

Clarke, who has finished in the top-10 at all four majors during his career, has won two World Golf Championship events.

In 2008 he ended a five-year wait for a title with victory at the BMW Asian Open.

Having played a pivotal role at the 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland, Clarke faces a tough task to qualify for the team this year, currently standing in 22nd place, and may have to bank on being one of the two wildcards chosen by captain Nick Faldo.