Darren Clarke looking good in Durban

After two years without a single top-10 finish on the European Tour, a newly slim Darren Clarke reaped the benefits of an intense fitness regime on the opening day of the Volvo Golf Champions. Clarke carded a three-under-par 69 in testing conditions at Durban Country Club to lie two shots behind leader Raphael Jacquelin, the Frenchman managing the only bogey-free round of the day.

Jacquelin defied strong crosswinds blowing in from the Indian Ocean to post a flawless 67, one shot ahead of defending champion Louis Oosthuizen, with three of his five birdies coming in the last five holes. Playing partner Colin Montgomerie, who usually plays on the Seniors Tour since turning 50 last year, finished two under while Clarke carded five birdies and two bogeys in his 69.

The former British Open champion has lost almost three stones since October as he looks to reproduce the golf which brought him a first major title at Royal St George’s in 2011. “My objectives are getting back to playing some of the golf I know I can play,” Clarke said after his round.

“I have had a frustrating last couple of years where I have not played that badly but made stupid mistakes. I took a look at myself in October and thought I was getting too fat, too heavy, too lethargic and decided to do something about it. I spend a lot of time in the gym doing heavy weights, no cardio, and changed my diet and hopefully I will reap the benefits.

“I plan to keep doing what I am doing if not necessarily losing any more weight, maybe get stronger and stronger. I hit a drive on the 10th today of 300 yards back into the wind and another driver from 285 yards to 12 feet. I couldn’t have done that maybe five or six months ago.”

Clarke, now ranked 297th in the world, revealed he has largely eliminated sugar and carbohydrates from his diet, but added: “I have not gone totally over to the dark side. I am more careful about what I do but I was still able to have a few pints with my mates over Christmas.”

Simon Thornton was next best of the four-strong Irish contingent on two-under with Padraig Harrington a shot further back. Michael Hoey was the only Irish golfer who failed to break par but the Belfast man won't be too displeased after finishing on level par.

Montgomerie, meanwhile, was inches away from winning a Volvo Backhoe Loader (excavator) for a hole in one on the par-three 15th, although he admitted he would have swiftly asked the tournament sponsors for the cash instead and split it with caddie Alistair McLean.

The former Ryder Cup captain added: “I was playing well at the end of last year and I started to play a lot more golf. I had not been having much fun on 7,500-yard courses on the main tour but I am a member of three tours now (the European Tour and two seniors tours) and it’s given me more freedom to choose courses I can get round.

“It’s very difficult and tricky out there. The wind was coming off the sea and made every hole a crosswind. You have to be very careful, you can make a mess out there in a hurry.”

That was borne out by the likes of Ryder Cup hopefuls Thomas Bjorn and Miguel Angel Jimenez struggling to scores of 79 and 76 respectively, but Jacquelin relished battling the elements. “I’m better when the conditions are difficult,” said Jacquelin, who won the Spanish Open last year after a record-equalling nine-hole play-off. His winning score at El Saler was just five under par.

“I score better when it’s difficult with the wind or rain or if the course is difficult, like playing majors like the US Open. I like it when it’s tough. Stay focused all day long and I know if you save par you are always going to be around (the lead). That’s the way I like to play.

“It’s a tricky course but if you stay focused it’s wide off the tee. We always have 40 metres to put the ball in play, which is pretty good for us, but it’s just the vision of all the trees and the bushes around the course that make it difficult. But if you just trust yourself and don’t try to guide the ball it’s not too bad.”

Oosthuizen was plagued by an ongoing back injury last season but also relished the windy conditions as he recovered from a bogey on the first with five birdies.

“I grew up in Mossel Bay and I think the wind is born there and just goes to the rest of the country,” the 2010 Open champion joked. “I am really chuffed with my score and would have been happy to be one under or level. “In the wind I don’t try to hit it too hard and take one more club and at the moment that’s the type of golf that I like with my back problems.”