Darren Clarke nominated for Hall of Fame
Darren Clarke has joined Christy O'Connor Snr as a candidate for membership of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
The Ulsterman, 40, was named on the 2009 International Ballot which will close on March 2.
"There are many qualified individuals in consideration each year, including those candidates on the ballots as well as those who will be considered through the Lifetime Achievement and Veterans categories," said Jack Peter, the Hall's Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "We look forward to learning the results of this year's process as we move toward another Induction Ceremony this Fall."
Only candidates over 40 are eligible for membership of the Hall of Fame, which has five categories: PGA TOUR Ballot, International Ballot, LPGA Point System, Lifetime Achievement and Veteran's.
In order to qualify for the PGA Tour Ballot, players must have been PGA TOUR member for 10 years and won either two Majors, the Players Championship or 10 PGA Tour events.
Candidates for the International Ballot are decided from a points list calculated from major wins, international tour wins and Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and Solheim Cup participation.
Clarke has won 16 tournaments worldwide including the 2000 WGC Andersen Consulting Matchplay over Tiger Woods and the 2003 NEC Invitational. He has also played on five Ryder Cup teams.
O'Connor Senior played on ten Ryder Cup teams and won 24 times in Europe between 1955 and 1972.
Candidates on the PGA TOUR ballot must get 65 percent of the vote if they are to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
However, Clarke and O'Connor Snr could get in if they receive 50 percent of the votes in the International Ballot of golf dignitaries, historians and journalists.
The International ballot, which has 12 candidates, will again include last year's vote leaders Jose Maria Olazabal (49 percent), Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (46 percent) and Sandy Lyle (35 percent).
O'Connor Snr has been on the International Ballot for the last few years, receiving 22 percent of the vote in 2008.
The 2009 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place November 2, 2009 at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla.
The World Golf Hall of Fame, located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., honors and celebrates golf's greatest players and contributors.
A World Golf Foundation initiative, the Hall of Fame represents collaboration among 26 national and international golf organizations, including the PGA TOUR, LPGA, USGA, Augusta National, PGA of America, The European Tour and The R&A. The museum houses interactive exhibits and historic and personal artifacts that tell the stories of its members and the game of golf. For more information, visit http://www.wgv.com/.
International ballot
2009 Candidates (Country)
Peter Alliss (England)
Darren Clarke (Ireland)
Max Faulkner (England)
Sandy Lyle (Scotland)
Graham Marsh (Australia)
Colin Montgomerie (Scotland)
Christy O'Connor Sr. (Ireland)
Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain)
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Japan)
Craig Parry (Australia)
Norman Von Nida (Australia)
Ian Woosnam (Wales)
2008 results
Jose Maria Olazabal 49 percent
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki 46 percent
Sandy Lyle 35 percent
Colin Montgomerie 29 percent
Graham Marsh 25 percent
Christy O'Connor, Sr. 22 percent
Ian Woosnam 18 percent
Peter Alliss 17 percent
Norman Von Nida 16 percent
Max Faulkner 5 percent
Craig Parry 1 percent
PGA TOUR Ballot
2009 Candidates
Miller Barber
Fred Couples
Doug Ford
Jay Haas
Don January
Tony Lema
Davis Love III
Harold McSpaden
Mark OMeara
Kenny Perry
Macdonald Smith
Dave Stockton
Ken Venturi
Lanny Wadkins
Fuzzy Zoeller
2008 Results
Craig Wood 65 percent
Lanny Wadkins 52 percent
Denny Shute 43 percent *
Doug Ford 35 percent
Bob Charles 28 percent *
Mark O'Meara 24 percent
Ken Venturi 23 percent
Davis Love III 19 percent
Tony Lema 18 percent
Macdonald Smith 18 percent
Fred Couples 17 percent
Fuzzy Zoeller 13 percent
Miller Barber 10 percent
Dave Stockton 10 percent
Don January 9 percent
Harold Jug McSpaden 5 percent
John Daly 2 percent
David Toms 0 percent
*Inducted in 2008 through Veterans category.