Clarke’s uphill struggle after 1st round shocker

Darren Clarke was not a happy chappy after his disastrous opening round 76.

The defending champion – Clarke upset the formbook by winning his first major at Royal St George’s last July – admitted:”It was a bad day at the office and I don’t think you can publish my thoughts right now.”

Clarke was gutted about his dismal display and added: “I was probably coming up the last thinking how the bleep did I manage to win this last year!”

The man from Portrush, Northern Ireland, started well enough but it quickly went downhill. He reflected: “I had a lovely tee shot to the first and made a pure putt.  But from there, it just got worse.  I played poorly and I putted worse. 

“It was disappointing, because at practice I hit it really, really well.  But what can I do?  I tried my best on every shot, but unfortunately it wasn’t there again today.”

Clarke knows full well he will have to produce something remarkable tomorrow in order to survive the weekend cut. “It’s a long drive back home, isn’t it?  I’ve got to go and practice.  I’ve got to work.  I’m basically disgusted with myself for shooting six over.  That’s not what I was after.”

There were no excuses from the 2011 champion who declared: “The greens were perfect.  There was nothing wrong with the greens – it was just me.”