Play like that and you’re in the team. Darren Clarke is congratulated by 2012 Ryder Cup skipper Jose Maria Olazabal after Sunday’s final round. Credit: golffile.ie Darren Clarke insists he can still win a major and win back his Ryder Cup place after snatching his first win for three years in Mallorca.

The Ulsterman, 42, leapt 36 spots to world No 88 thanks to his three-shot win at the Iberdrola Open.

Now just one win away from a return to the world’s top 50, he sees no reason why he can’t challenge for a place in the 2012 Ryder Cup team alongside Ulster stars Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, six years after his last appearance at the K Club.

Winner alright. Darren Clarke won for the first time in three years. Credit: golffile.ieInspired by a wartime quote by Winston Churchill, Darren Clarke emerged from the wilderness to claim his 13th European Tour title at the Iberdrola Open on a windy final day at Pula Golf Club in Mallorca.

“Never give in,” the English statesman told the boys of Harrow School in 1941 as the threat of Nazi Germany loomed large. “Never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

A tad dramatic where golf is concerned but it served Clarke well on a difficult day as he came from four strokes behind stablemate Chris Wood to card a one under par 69 and win by three for his first victory since the 2008 KLM Open.

“This is a monkey off my back after three years without winning,” Clarke said. “I have had a few chances and spurned them but today I just ground it out. Things are coming back in place. This is a stepping stone for me.”

As an added bonus, he also leapt 36 places to 88th in the world.

If Saturday is moving day, Shane Lowry hit warp speed in Mallorca when he blasted a course record equalling 63 to race into contention for his first tour win as a professional in the Iberdrola Open.

Tied for 30th and 10 shots off the lead when he went to bed on Friday night, Lowry’s putting and patience finally came together on the same day as he racked up an eagle, six birdies and just one bogey in a seven under par effort.

By day’s end the 2009 Irish Open champion was tied for second with Darren Clarke, who bogeyed the last for an even par 70, and just four strokes adrift of leader Chris Woods on five under par.

Darren Clarke drives on the 17th at Pula GC. Credit: golffile.ieDarren Clarke produced a battling back nine to move into contention for his first title for three years as Simon Thornton hit a super 65 to keep give his tour comeback bid a kick start in the Iberdrola Open in Mallorca

Playing for the first time in five weeks after becoming disillusioned with his lack of progress this season, Clarke recovered from a three over par front nine with a storming, homeward 32 for a level par 70 that left him tied for second with rookie Matthew Nixon  (70) on five under.

The Dungannon star is three strokes adrift of stablemate Chris Wood (65) with Thornton five behind in joint seventh after a superb 65, the equal best round of the day.

Darren Clarke shot a 65 on his return to action in Mallorca. Credi: golffile.ieDarren Clarke remained in holiday mood when he opened with a five under par 65 to trail leader Gregory Bourdy by just two shots in the Iberdrola Open in Mallorca.

Five weeks after his last tour start and recharged following a two-week break in the Bahamas, the Ulsterman had seven birdies and two bogeys at Pula Golf Club to share third place.

Shane Lowry in action during last week’s Spanish Open at El Prat. Credit: golffile.ieShane Lowry insists he’s ready to win again after hitting an “all-time low” following his long injury lay off over the winter.

The Offaly star, 24, suffered a huge blow to his confidence when he came back after four months out with a broken wrist and missed his first three cuts this season.

But after back-to-back top-13 finishes in Korea and Spain he feels ready to grab his first victory since his 2009 Irish Open triumph when he heads to Mallorca this week for the Iberdrola Open.