GOLF: DARREN CLARKE, it would seem, has discovered patience is, indeed, a virtue. Yesterday, positioned as the old man of a trio that could have been viewed as a number of things – anything from representing a changing of the guard to highlighting a generation gap on tour – the 42-year-old Ulsterman confirmed a new-found zest for the sport, opening his quest for the tour's flagship championship with a 69, two-under, that was more Faldo-esque than something from his own instruction manual.
In many ways, Clarke’s way of getting the job done – two birdies in his opening three holes, followed by 15 straight pars without a bogey to blot his copybook – was a lesson in diligence for his playing partners: Matteo Manssero, all of 18 years of age, and Rory McIlroy, his one-time prodigy and now a 22-year-old into his fourth full season on tour.
Clarke’s score wasn’t the best of the trio – three shots worse than the Italian’s, and seven strokes better than McIlroy’s – but it emphasised a return to form borne of a new approach to the sport. Earlier this month in Mallorca, he became the oldest winner on tour this season when capturing the Iberdrola Open and, here, he dutifully went about his business without so much as a self-rebuke or any display of angst as a number of birdie putts burnt the edges of the cup.
“I think I mishit two shots all day. That was it, in total. I hit the ball where I wanted to for the most part and I hit so many putts that burned the edges. My reads were a little bit off, I couldn’t quite get the line and pace. Hopefully I can get the combination better (over the next three rounds),” said Clarke.
Clarke got off to a flyer, with two birdies inside three holes. On the first, he hit a six-iron approach to 20 feet and sank the putt. And, on the third, he punched a six-iron to 12 feet and again holed out. In all, he had 28 putts, hit 12 greens in regulation and, impressively, made six out of six scrambles in demonstrating his short game’s sharpness. All in all, a decent day at the office.
“In Mallorca, where Chris Wood had a tough (final) day, I managed to come in and knick it. I stayed very patient and that’s not always what I’ve been very good at and it was the same today . . . I’m enjoying it again. I had that break before Mallorca, recharged the batteries somewhat, and came back with a different frame of mind . . . I’m enjoying playing again,” admitted Clarke.
One other change in Clarke’s game plan is that he will concentrate his time on the European Tour rather than chase opportunities to play in the US, which is why he has decided against trying to qualify for next month’s US Open at Congressional. Now 86th in the world rankings, with only the top-50 guaranteed places in Washington off those rankings, Clarke has decided on a hectic summer campaign that will see him stay in Europe.
He explained: “For one trip, although it is a Major and a wonderful tournament at Congressional, which is a brilliant golf course and one I loved the last time, for me, at the stage where I’m at, it is much more important to play and support Europe. I can’t do 10 weeks in a row. I ain’t 18 or 19 any more.”
