DARREN CLARKE SAYS HE IS DISGUSTED WITH A SIX-OVER 76

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

By MICK CLEARY

An early return home to Northern Ireland and the drowning of sorrows was all that was in prospect for Darren Clarke, the defending champion, after the humiliation of signing for a six-over-par 76 on a Open championship course at Royal Lytham that was as gentle and unthreatening as a baby’s smile.

Memories of his tumultuous surge to the title at the age of 42 just 12 months ago at Sandwich had indeed flitted across his mind as he trudged towards the red-stoned clubhouse, his own afflictions in stark contrast to the line-and-length prowess of playing partner, American Zach Jonson and the easy-on-the-eye potency of Ernie Els, both of whom are nestled high up the leaderboard.

“Yeah, coming up the last, I was thinking how the bleep did I manage to win this last year,” said Clarke, his wry reflections masking the contempt within.
 “I don’t think you could really publish my thoughts right now. I’m basically disgusted with myself.”

One year cock of the walk, the next a feather duster, Clarke has got to know that spectrum pretty well over the last 12 months. No wonder he made the most of the moment, showering the Claret Jug with love and devotion as if it were a favoured child.

BATTERED TROPHY
It was no surprise that the trophy returned a little battered by the experience. So too did the player. Deep within, Clarke probably knew too that the pair were not destined to be re-united early on  Sunday evening at the championship ceremony. Hay was made, fun was had, drink was downed, and reality was kept at a respectable distance for just a little while longer.
No more after this. From the moment that Clarke missed a tiddler for birdie on the first, the runes made for ominous reading. Two bogeys followed over the next two holes, Clarke swishing repeatedly into the rough on the second, his torment at trying to get the ball to bend to his will clearly visible.

There was fleeting respite from misery, a birdie on the 387 yard par four tenth, but there was to be no upturn. No sooner had the arm been raised to acknowledge the applause than it was shaping to throttle himself as he skewed horribly only 30metres bunker to bunker on the following hole for a bogey six.
BEFUDDLED PLAY
The clarity of Clarke’s post-round observations was in stark contrast to his befuddled play out on the course. His putting in particular was horrible, just horrible.
“I wasn’t able to make any putts at all to save anything,” said Clarke. “I could not marry the line and pace at all. There was nothing wrong with the greens. It was just me. The crowds out there were great, they kept shouting for me and showing me support. Unfortunately I couldn’t reciprocate. It was a bad day at the office.”

One of his partners, another former Open champion, Els lived up to his billing as the Big Easy, the effortless flow of his game bringing due reward with a three under par 67. Els could empathise with Clarke’s suffering. He’s been in that bleak place himself, although his round on Thursday, allied to his three top 10 finishes this year, with a ninth placing at the US Open, suggests the 2002 champion has much still to offer. Clarke’s predicament was all too familiar.

“Absolutely, I’ve been there,” said Els. “It’s just a confidence thing. I’ve been there for over a year. Your confidence is low, you get the wrong bounces. But I think his attitude is great.”
Clarke will need that fortitude to get back out there on Friday with some pep still left in his soul.