Darren Clarke enjoys dream start to home Open at Royal Portrush
Clarke’s playing partner James Sugrue was just one shot behind him on Thursday morning.
Former champion Darren Clarke enjoyed a dream start to his home Open after taking an unexpected early lead on day one of the 148th championship.
The 2011 winner, given the honour of hitting the opening tee shot at 6.35am at Royal Portrush, relived former glories in front of an adoring crowd with three birdies in his opening six holes.
Clarke, who owns a house overlooking the course, holed a 15-foot putt at the first and then a brilliant approach to three feet at the short third moved him to two under, with a third birdie following at another par three, the sixth.
With early morning sunshine piercing the cloudy skies, Clarke was welcomed on the first tee to huge cheers.
The 50-year-old, who now plays on the veterans’ Champions Tour in the United States, has missed the cut in three of the last four years at the Open but, after sharing a few words with victorious Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn, he got off to a confidence-boosting start in breezy conditions.
An hour into his round the first of the rain arrived to increase the difficulty level at Royal Portrush, hosting its first Open since 1951.
Clarke’s fellow Northern Irishman and bookies’ favourite Rory McIlroy, who set the course record of 61 at Portrush as a 16-year-old, was due off at 10.09 and guaranteed the biggest gallery of the morning starters.
That brought him back into the pack on two under, which included England’s Eddie Pepperell and compatriot Andrew Johnston, who eagled the second, and Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Sugrue.
However, Frenchman Romain Langasque emerged from the group with a third birdie of the day when an 18ft putt dropped at the seventh and to compound matters Clarke, who had turned in 34, saw his 15-footer for par slide by the hole at the 11th to fall two behind the new leader.
