Harrington happy with steady display

The final round scores were the same but reactions were sharply contrasting from Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke when they completed this latest US Open challenge. Harrington was pleased to have attained his primary objective but Clarke felt cheated that his game had deserted him when he most needed it.

The Dubliner was tied 32nd for $18,327 and his compatriot was two strokes further back, tied 43rd for $12,506.

"This was my first time to make the cut in a US Open, so I have to be happy with that," said Harrington after a 72 for 293 - 13 over par. "I like the course, maybe because it has many aspects similar to Stackstown, particularly the way the fairways slope away."

But he was quick to acknowledge the way the USGA set up the Lake Course, making it a vastly difference challenge to his Dublin nursery. In this context, he was particularly pleased to have three-putted only twice over four rounds.

"I didn't think it was as tough as Winged Foot (last year's USPGA Championship) or Congressional (last year's US Open)," he added. "It could be that I'm now better able to handle this sort of challenge. I'm certainly hitting the ball higher than I did."

Harrington, who is taking this week off prior to the Murphy's Irish Open, is also committed to the Loch Lomond Invitational before heading on to the British Open at Royal Birkdale. Yesterday's round contained two birdies, at the 288-yard seventh, where he pitched dead, and the long 16th where he sank a 20-footer.

There were four bogeys on his card, including the punishing 17th which cost him three strokes over the four rounds.

Clarke has decided to withdraw from this week's Western Open at Cog Hill. Lee Westwood has also withdrawn and their manager, Andrew Chandler, said yesterday that the English player, who is currently top of the European Order of Merit, may be seeking a sponsor's invitation into the Irish Open.

"Lee hadn't originally planned to play Druid's Glen but it now looks as if it would suit his schedule," said Chandler. Clarke will be there, but is not playing Loch Lomond.

"My plan this week is to play as many links courses as I can as part of my preparation for Birkdale," he said. "I hope to play Portrush, Co Down, Ballyliffin and Portmarnock Links. Obviously the Irish Open is a big target for me but I'm giving my priority to links golf."

As for a fourth US Open challenge which finished with a 72 for 295, he said: "I'm a bit annoyed that I didn't break par today. Over the four rounds, however, a player would need to have been on top of his game to handle this course. And I'm afraid I wasn't. I had an off-week and on a course as penal as this, there's no let up."

This was Clarke's sixth competitive week in a row and it showed, particularly on the greens. Like Harrington, the 17th cost him three strokes but he failed to match the Dubliner's steadiness on the greens. In fact Clarke threeputted twice yesterday alone - at the fifth and ninth for bogeys.

He started well, hitting the long first with a five-iron second shot for a two-putt birdie. And he also birdied the third from three feet. But for the most part it was a struggle, particularly the finish, where bunkered approaches led to bogeys at the 17th and 18th.

Perhaps the most telling factor in separating the two Irish performances was putting. Harrington averaged 29.5 putts over the four rounds whereas Clarke's average was a decidedly moderate 31.