Darren Clarke continued his affinity with the Compass English Open by storming into a share of the lead after day one at the Forest of Arden.
Darren Clarke continued his affinity with the Compass English Open by storming into a share of the lead after day one at the Forest of Arden.
Clarke gave the new belly-putter a body swerve and on his return to the normal length blade went round in seven-under 65 at the Warwickshire course. He was joined by Australia’s Jarrod Moseley at the top.
"It's back in the garage and did well to survive," said Clarke of the old putter. "After the way I putted the first five holes of the final round at Woburn last week it could become a flying object or a short putter very easily.
The Ulsterman, who won back-to-back English Open titles in 1999 and 2000 before finishing tied fifth last year, started on the back nine and picked up three birdies to reach the turn in three-under 33.
Clarke then turned on the style at the start of the front nine. Three birdies from the first, his 10th, followed by another at the sixth elevated him into the top spot.
"I played very well. A 65 was about as bad as it could have been," said Clarke.
Moseley had a rash of six birdies in between a bogey at the second and a gratifying eagle three at the 17th.
Clarke’s morning challenge came mainly in the form of last week’s runner up at the British Masters Ian Poulter. The Englishman had matched Clarke almost shot for shot but dropped back to four-under with bogeys at the sixth and seventh, his 15th and 16th.
A group of five players made up the chasing pack on five-under. They were; English trio Mark Roe, Graeme Storm and Grant Hamerton, Scotland’s Gary Orr and Belgium’s Didier de Vooght.
There was disappointment for Clarke’s stablemate Lee Westwood who was forced to withdraw after five holes. The 29-year-old, in search of his first win in 20 months after a major slump in form, retired complaining of a trapped nerve in his left arm.
"I've had this once before, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem," said Westwood.
Seven Irishmen are competing at the Warwickshire course, Des Smyth and Philip Walton made solid progress with a pair of one-under 71’s. Paul McGinley, desperately looking to find his form, carded an acceptable level par round in the more difficult afternoon conditions.
David Higgins was one-over with six holes remaining while Eamonn Darcy opened with a two-over 74. Unfortunately Michael Hoey was nowhere near at his best. The 2001 British Amateur Champion, who turned professional before defending his title at Porthcawl in Wales this week, slumped to a nine-over 81.
Clarke has been struggling with injury in recent months but the 34-year-old has still been threatening to fulfill his potential. Invariably, the struggle has been his inability to string four good rounds together. However, if it’s horses for courses then Clarke has the best chance of anyone getting this trip.