Darren Clarke’s bid to win a place on Europe’s Ryder Cup team will be a major theme of the next two months.

One day after his World Cup-winning partner Bradley Dredge set the pace in the European Open Stephen Dodd took over at the top at the K Club near Dublin today.

Everyone needs some luck now and again and Darren Clarke definitely had some this morning as he closed in on the overnight leaders at the Smurfit Kappa European Open.

Paul Casey could be just three rounds away from taking over from David Howell at the top of the European Order of Merit.

England’s Kenneth Ferrie, ranked 326th in the world, pulled off an amazing victory in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin today.

Colin Montgomerie birdied four of the first five holes to charge into joint fourth place in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club west of Dublin today.

Ryder Cup player Costantino Rocca was disqualified from the Smurfit European Open today for missing his tee-off time – the day after American cup captain Tom Lehman received a two-stroke penalty for being a few seconds late.

There is a strongly Irish flavour to the leaderboard at the Smurfit European Open at the K Club.

American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman had to dash to the first tee to avoid a two-stroke penalty in the third round of the Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin today.

The Smurfit European Open was an event Darren Clarke was going to miss in the run-up to the Open Championship. But tomorrow he could well win it.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington is set to miss the cut at the European Open after carding a second-round 74 at the K Club today to reach the halfway stage on nine over par.

Lee Westwood is certainly going to remember the K Club’s 182-yard 12th if he returns next September for the Ryder Cup.

The Open Championship would have been close to the top of Darren Clarke’s priorities in 2005 but things have changed considerably in six months.

Trevor Immelman reckons the Open at St Andrews the week after next is “probably going to be the highlight of my career”.

Retief Goosen remains on course for back-to-back victories – after a round today he described as “rubbish”.

One bad shot followed by one great putt left Lee Westwood sharing the lead with Retief Goosen in the Smurfit European Open title at the wet and windy K Club near Dublin today.

Retief Goosen had his first bogey in 28 holes when he resumed the Smurfit European Open with a two-stroke lead at the wet and windy K Club in Co Kildare today.

Lee Westwood has his sights on a third European Open title in six years at the K Club near Dublin this weekend.

Retief Goosen’s class was there for all to see again today as he moved to the top of the leaderboard in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin.

Thomas Bjorn pulled out of the European Open after six holes today because he had had enough of “fighting demons”.

Paul Broadhurst birdied the 18th to complete a five-under round of 67 at the European Open at the K Club in Co Kildare today.

It is becoming increasingly difficult not to notice Darren Clarke - but the worry for the Irishman is that no-one will remember him.

Justin Rose looked to have made a good decision the way he started the Smurfit European Open today.

Phillip Price, one of Europe’s Ryder Cup heroes two years ago, admits he does not have a clue how he is doing in the current race for places.

Volvo Order of Merit after the Smurfit European Open.

Phillip Price holds a two stroke lead as the European Open draws to a close.

Wales’s Phillip Price, chasing his first win since beating Phil Mickelson at last September’s Ryder Cup, led by two with nine holes to play in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club today.

Colin Montgomerie produced the shot of the day at the Smurfit European Open today but the round belonged to Ryder Cup team-mate Phillip Price as he moved in sight of his biggest-ever win.

Three birdies in his first four holes put Welsh Ryder Cup star Phillip Price into the driving seat in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin today.

Darren Clarke is two strokes behind Phillip Price in the third round of the European Open.

Padraig Harrington could not wait to get back to his bed after a third successive 73 in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin today.

The young and the old of the multi-national European tour were gathered today to try to mount a challenge to Ryder Cup pair Darren Clarke and Phillip Price at the K Club near Dublin.

Padraig Harrington appeared to be proving his prediction right as he failed to make any telling move on the third morning of the Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin.

Darren Clarke is desperate to find out in two weeks’ time whether he has finished serving his golfing apprenticeship.

Darren Clarke put some trans-Atlantic advice to good use today as he moved into a share of the lead in Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin.

Darren Clarke spoke tonight about his concern for the wife of US Open runner-up Stephen Leaney – after he struck her on the head in the first round of the Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin.

Ireland's Darren Clarke and Gary Murphy are among the leaders at the European Open at the K Club today.

Colin Montgomerie tucked in just off the pace with an opening four under par 68 in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin today.

Padraig Harrington made a fast start to the Smurfit European Open today – and then found himself on the clock for slow play.