The last thing Darren Clarke wants is to see his personal hurt detract from the Ryder Cup. And yet, there are phases that can't be avoided.

Yesterday, U.S. team members offered their condolences upon seeing Clarke for the first time since his wife, Heather, died of cancer. Later, the masses that arrived for the first practice day gave him their longest and loudest ovation.

"It was lovely to hear," said European teammate Paul McGinley, perhaps Clarke's closest friend on the tour.

"He's had a really, really tough time ... and it's nice that he's able to have something sort of joyous to look forward to as he does this week."

If only the focus could somehow be swung around to the competition.

"That's why I'm here," the popular Northern Ireland pro said not long after his arrival at The K Club. "I want to play. I want to compete, and I want to help my teammates."

It has been five weeks now since breast cancer took Heather, ending a two-year ordeal that began shortly after Europe's Ryder Cup triumph at Oakland Hills.

Clarke left the circuit after the British Open, seeing Heather through her final days and caring for their two young sons. And if not for the Ryder Cup, he might have stayed away longer.

In the end, missing the Ryder Cup's first appearance on the Emerald Isle would have opened another hole in his heart — though he admits wrestling with the decision for some time.

"I was desperate to be here," he said. "But at the same time, if I didn't think I would be a benefit to the team, I would have made the decision to not be available to play."

LPGA QUALIFYING

BALDWIN GRAD MIYAJIMA FIRST-ROUND LEADER AT 67

Shayna Miyajima, the 1999 state high school champion out of Baldwin, leads the LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament after the first round.

Miyajima shot a 5-under-par 67 yesterday at Mission Hills Country Club. She is a shot ahead of Lisa Fernandes, of Raleigh, N.C., and South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace. Kailua's Bridget Dwyer shot 76 and shares 87th.

Miyajima hit 17 greens in regulation. She birdied four of the first 10 and did not have a bogey.

"I went into today just trying to shoot even-par. I had an up-and-down season on the Futures Tour, but this is what really counts, to qualify for the LPGA Tour," Miyajima said. "I'm just going to continue to try to do the best that I can this week."

Miyajima's best finish this year on the Duramed Futures Tour was a tie for 58th.

The field will be cut to the low 70 and ties after today's second round. The top 30 and ties at the end of 72 holes advance to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, at LPGA International in Florida, Nov. 29 to Dec. 3.