GOLF/European Open: Darren Clarke may have relinquished his Smurfit European Open title yesterday but he signed off with something of a tour de force. Six under for the last 10 holes won't quite have banished the horrors of Saturday's run of six bogeys but he should be in better mental fettle heading for Loch Lomond this week.

A five under par 67 might inspire the Dungannon man to briefly consider what might have been but for the previous day's dross on the front nine. That thought will be superseded by the satisfaction of unearthing a swing change that kick-started a birdie blitz on the homeward journey.

His first comments on leaving the recorder's hut reflected his mental state on Saturday night. "Those six bogeys in a row hurt and put me out of the tournament. I was very disappointed on Saturday night. I wanted to try to give myself a decent chance to defend; what happened that day was very disappointing. I went out there today and nothing was happening again.

"The first drive was slightly left and up a tree. I thought 'here we go again', but I hung in there and managed a 67. I'm pretty pleased. Something clicked into place on the ninth hole. I was standing too far away from the ball and fishing for it a little bit.

"I stood two inches closer to the ball and flushed it; six-under for the last 10 holes. That's the way I am, sometimes it clicks into place, and when it does I give myself lots of opportunities. To have what went on Saturday and still finish the tournament under par is pleasing. It's a tough course. I dismembered my putter the other night, this one was almost getting the same treatment."

Clarke finished tied 20th, 10 places ahead of Gary Murphy. The Kilkenny golfer finished one over for the tournament, to end a run of two tournaments on the European tour - he returns to the Challenge tour this week. He feels he should have done better - he had a great chance in Slaley Hall (Great North Open) but shot a disappointing final round - but in that period has earned €35,440 and is 167th in the Volvo Order of Merit.

"I hit it well enough to finish in the top 10 - I think I missed only nine fairways in four days - but didn't really capitalise on it. It's difficult when you get in on a once-off because you are trying so hard. You're pushing for top 10s. you can't force it on this course.

"I made a bogey on six on Saturday and lost the plot on the next tee, ending up with a triple bogey seven. That's three shots in one hole and probably the difference in making the top 15. I can't afford to be spending money like that.

"I was going to pre-qualify for the British Open but will now just head back to the Challenge tour, having missed two tournaments on that. If I keep playing like this for the rest of the year and get my putting sorted out then I will reach my goals."

Continuing the theme in an Irish context of would've, could've, should've, was the tale of John Dwyer. The Ashbourne professional was at one stage five under par for the tournament on Friday; the weekend was more horror story than fairytale.

He eventually finished tied 70th. "It was a completely mixed week. I came into the weekend feeling reasonably comfortable and confident but on Saturday it didn't feel comfortable.

"I came out today, was well down the field, had nothing to lose but was tired and made a lot of tired swings. But it's been a fantastic week and it's great to make a first cut here.

I am disappointed with the last couple of days but you have to put that down to experience, it's all new ground for me and I'll learn from it. I look at the score I shot on day one. I was very proud of that and the fact that I made the cut easily.

"I am not annoyed with myself over the weekend as I enjoyed every bit of it."