Clark’s unlikely ace at Oak Hill gave him access to an exclusive club in Ryder Cup record books

That applies to Leeds’s Howard Clark, who was a European Tour professional for 26 years and a winner of 11 tournaments in a career that was highlighted by six Ryder Cup appareances.

But the one swing of the club that ensures his name will for ever be linked with European golf and the Ryder Cup, came in his final appearance in the biennial match in 1995.

That day, Clark signed in at the door of the exclusive club of players who have registered a hole-in-one in the Ryder Cup. It is so exclusive a club that there are only six members.

The ace in question came on the final day of that year’s Ryder Cup at Oak Hill, New York State, in his delicately-poised singles contest with Peter Jacobsen.

It was the sixth and final Ryder Cup appearance of Clark’s distinguished career.

The Yorkshireman had been in and out of the European team since 1977, and had already tasted victory outside Europe when Tony Jacklin’s team broke new ground by winning at Muirfield Village in 1987.

Eight years later, Clark was going through a trying time with his golf game.

Together with Mark James they lost their opening foursomes match on the Friday morning against Jeff Maggert and Davis Love III, who is the man tasked this week with winning back the Ryder Cup for the American team at Medinah.

Clark had been struggling with his swing all week and did not compete again until the Sunday singles almost 48 hours later.

Europe went into that final session trailing 9-7, with Clark’s game against Jacobsen – a two-time winner on the PGA Tour that year – the second game out and one perceived to be a tough one to win from a European perspective.

As he stepped on to the tee at the par-three 11th, the game was on a knife-edge, with Clark having battled his own demons as well as Jacobsen’s talent to stay in contention.

What happened next helped change the course of that particular match, that year’s Ryder Cup and how Clark is remembered in the storied annals of this magnificent competition.

Clark flushed a six-iron tee shot that soared through the sky, dropped on the green and rolled into the cup. The pent-up frustration of what had been a hitherto frustrating weekend exploded out of him.

Reinvigorated, Clark went on to win the match on the 18th hole. It was an unlikely point, but a heroic one and Europe regained the cup by a single point for only their second win in the back yard of the United States.

“It’s a nice way to be remembered,” remembered Clark.

“It kind of glosses over the difficult stuff.”

Clark played on three winning Ryder Cup teams in his six appearances, during which time he enjoyed productive partnerships with Sam Torrance and his good friend James, particularly the fourballs.

He won seven of his 15 matches, halved another and lost seven for a very admirable 50 per cent scoring rate in a contest that is so often decided by fine margins.

It was in singles where he was strongest overall, but even in the fourballs and foursomes format of the competition, he had a connection with his playing partners that translates even today.

“It takes a little bit of time to establish a rapport,” said Clark.

“Jesse (James) and I shared this policy that it didn’t matter if I was closest to the hole and he was twice the distance, he should try and hole his putt as well and not leave it to the guy who was closest.

“It was a very relaxed but strict rule between us in that we didn’t wait for each other.

“You can easily relax and say my playing partner will win the hole, but you should go out there and try and win it yourself.

“I was not brilliant off the tee but I was a good partner in fourballs because most of the time I was there to back up my partner and I was a consistent player scoring wise.

“The important thing in fourballs is to back your partner up.”

Even when he was rested on the first two days, Clark was someone who bought in wholeheartedly to the idea that you follow your team-mates around the course in a show of support and strength.

“Your job is to give the rest of the team a bit of encouragement, going out to follow is important to players,” said Clark, who will be present at Medinah this week as on-course commentator for Sky Sports.

“You’ve also got to balance that out with getting a bit of practice in so that when you’re called upon you’re ready.”