More chump than champ: Clarke left wondering how he ever won Claret Jug

ROYAL LYTHAM DIARY:A British Open miscellany

THE THOUGHT struck Darren Clarke – who returned the Claret Jug to the R&A with some decorum on Monday last – as he strolled up the 18th fairway here yesterday. With a wry grin and a shake of his head, the Ulsterman later recounted the process that went through his head as he made his way up the closing hole: “How the bleep did I manage to win this last year?”

Win it he had, of course. Yesterday was an entirely different story, however. Clarke laboured to a 76 in the first round. it was symptomatic of a season where he has made only one regular cut (in the Irish Open). “You couldn’t publish my thoughts right now . . . . I played poorly and I putted worse. I tried my best on every shot but, unfortunately, it wasn’t there again,” said the defending champion.

“I’ve hit it well in practice and hit it well on the range, and I went out there and I couldn’t do it. I started hitting it in the bunkers. Even though my strike was good, I was starting too many shots right of my target, and I couldn’t quite figure out a way to get it back on line again.”

THE INFLUENCEof modern technology on clubs was evidenced by the club usage statistics from yesterday's first round.

No fewer than 127 players out of the 156 in the field included a rescue – or utility – club in their bags. Interestingly, 48 players included the much-maligned two iron in their attempts to conquer the links.

Eventful round: Dunbar has high hopes for good score

AMATEUR CHAMP: BRITISH AMATEUR champion Alan Dunbar – from Rathmore Golf Club in Portrush – managed to shoot a 75 despite a triple bogey and two double bogeys in an eventful round.The triple bogey on the sixth hole came after he put his second shot from the rough into a fairway bunker and took two attempts to escape. His first double bogey came on the par-five 11th, where he lost a ball.

"I don't know where the tee shot came on 11, a terrible swing on a birdieable hole, which stopped my momentum again. I need to shoot a good score (in the second round) but I am hitting enough good shots and my short game is good and I am putting well. There is no reason why I can't."

TIGER WOODS,so often dismissive of the British media, has now taken a swipe at the country's meteorologists. "The forecast hasn't been right all week. Nice job to have, huh?" he said after a round of 67.

TWEET CONSOLATION: McILROY'S BLUE NOTE

"Ouch thats got to hurt Rory just pitched it on someones nut. Ouch. Hope the Lad is ok."

– @IanJamesPoulter after McIlroy's drive on the 15th hit a spectator (16-year-old Jason Blue from Brisol) on the head and went out-of-bounds. Blue received a signed glove from McIlroy for his troubles.

"Makes you feel sick when you hit someone, it can rattle you for sure. I broke a poor ladys nose once, I went to jelly after. I did shout 4."

- @IanJamesPoulter