Darren Clarke took to the course at the K-Club this morning knowing any
chances he had of successfully defending his Smurfit European Open title were surrendered with an unprecedented run of bogeys in yesterday's third round 76.
The 33 year-old yesterday compiled six bogeys in a row from the second, a run which can in part be attributed to a large slice of misfortune. However, for such a talented player used to the glamour and attention of playing in the latter groups on the final day, today's relatively early round will be more of a formality just to complete the event.
In winding up his tournament then, Clarke opened with a bogey then got it back with a birdie at the fourth to remain four-over. For players in the upper echelons of the game, which Clarke undoubtedly is, winning is all that matters and unfortunately for the Tyroneman he won't get a chance of doing that today.
John Dwyer, playing two groups in front of Clarke, opened with five straight pars before being derailed by a bogey, double-bogey, bogey combination to drop to nine-over. A shame for the Ashbourne professional, who is bringing a limp closure to a week which started so promisingly.
Moments ago Eamonn Darcy and Gary Murphy took to the course, the former made three pars to remain four-over while the latter was one better on three-over after he parred the first.
All hopes of an Irish victory rest at the door of Padraig Harrington, who tees off in the final group at 1.50 p.m. alongside overnight leader Michael Campbell. The Kiwi leads by one shot on seven-under from Harrington and Scotland's Paul Lawrie.