Clarke starts well in South Africa

Golf - Africa Open update:Darren Clarke's by now familiar early season jaunt to South Africa got off on the right foot as he signed for a four under par 69 on the opening day of the €1million Africa Open.

The 42-year-old set off from the ninth at East London Golf Club and endured something of a mixed start after an opening birdie at the 11th was followed by back-to-back bogeys from the 13th.

However, the card was quickly rectified with an eagle three at the par five 15th, and from there, he never looked back. A second eagle of the day arrived at the long third before he birdied the fourth to come home in 34 and lie three shots off the overnight lead set by little-known South Africa's Brandon Pieters, who shot a colourful 66.

“I was a bit rusty and hit some poor shots and made two silly bogeys on 13 and 14 but hit a few decent shots as well,” said Clarke after his round. “My distance control on the wedges was poor, but that was to be expected after I had a bit of a break. All in all, I’m pretty pleased with the start.”

Brandon also started at the ninth and recorded an eagle, three birdies and three bogeys before racing to the top of the leaderboard with a remarkable run of five consecutive birdies from the third on his inward half.

"You don’t win after the first round but hopefully I’m here sitting with you on Sunday afternoon,” said the 34-year-old, who leads by one from a chasing pack of six, including Qualifying School graduate Elliot Saltman.

Clarke was joined on four under by defending champion Charl Schwartzel, who blazed over the first 12 holes with five birdies and no dropped shots before an eagle at the 15th was accompanied by three bogeys in his closing six holes.

British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen (70) was a shot further back on three under, one ahead of Gareth Maybin (71), the only other Irish player in the field at the Eastern Cape venue where play was suspended for 90 minutes due to fog, which means several players still have to complete their first rounds today.

Of the other high profile home players in action, Retief Goosen was the most disappointing after the 2009 champion could only manage a two-over 75. Goosen ended 2010 well after finishing second to Ernie Els at the South African Open in Durban the week before Christmas.

As for Clarke, who recently got engaged to former Miss Northern Ireland Alison Campbell, he is a man in a hurry and eager to get back into the world's top 50 to ensure entry into the majors this season.

“It’s been two years since I won but I am determined to break back and I hope the Africa Open will give me the kind of kick start it did in 2009," said Clarke, who pushed Goosen all the way in 2009.

Clarke is currently 100th in the world rankings and exempt for the British Open after finishing 30th in the 2010 Race to Dubai standings, but has designs on breaking into the top 50 in time to guarantee his place at the US Masters, the first major of the year in April. This week’s first prize of €158,500 would be a good starting point.

Elsewhere Graeme McDowell added yet another accolade to his already considerable haul after he won the European Tour Shot of the Year for 2010 for his crucial birdie putt at the 16th on the final day of the Ryder Cup.

“That putt on the 16th was the best I’ve hit in my life,” said McDowell, who went on to defeat Hunter Mahan in the final singles match to ensure the European win at Celtic Manor last October.

“It was just 15 feet but it was above the hole and very fast. I knew I just had to get the ball going and thankfully it caught an edge and dropped in because I wouldn’t have fancied the one back if it had missed.

“In the context of the Ryder Cup, that 16th hole was massive as I was aware that everything was riding on the outcome of my singles match with Hunter,” added the US Open champion, who was paired with Mahan for the opening round of this week’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, the curtain-raiser for the new PGA Tour season.