Angry Jimenez gets snappy in Bahrain

DARREN CLARKE generously awarded playing partner Miguel Angel Jimenez a ‘6’ for technique after the frustrated Spaniard snapped his putter on day two of the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain.

Jimenez was furious after missing a birdie putt at the 13th on the Royal Golf Club course with the putter catching the pony-tailed Spaniard’s golf bag and snapping in half. Despite the drama the 19-time Race to Dubai winner secured a share of the lead at 11-under par in the €1.7m event.

“I’m thinking now I might start using my lob-wedge as I make a birdie with that one,” Jimenez joked as he led the field along with Sweden’s Peter Hanson (65), Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin (65) and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (67).

Clarke snatched eight birdies in a seven under par 65 for a share of fifth at 10-under par. Clarke played in the company of Jimenez and were amused at the outburst.

Clarke smiled: “His throwing was better than his putting. It was just so funny. If you’re playing nicely like Miguel was and missing a few putts, you’re going to lose your temper. But to his credit he made a very nice shoulder turn and got it right on the corner of the bag, which was good. He got 6.0 for technique from the course designer and myself. So the throw was a wonderful effort.”

Clarke’s effort, that included 28 putts, is his best score since a pair of 64s in November’s UBS Hong Kong Open.

The current World No. 112 birdied three of his opening four holes and then three of four holes from the 11th before ending with four straight pars.

Pádraig Harrington is next best of the Irish after birding his closing two holes in a 69 for a share of 32nd at five-under par. Belfast’s Michael Hoey made the cut with scores of 72 and 69 while Peter Lawrie produced a 74 to finish two-under par mark. However Damien McGrane’s poor form continues with scores of 75 and 72 for a three over par score.

Pádraig gets a lift from unlikely source

A WEEK after disqualifying him from the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the European Tour’s chief referee Andy McFee came to Pádraig Harrington’s rescue yesterday.

“I asked Andy to take me to the toilet (in a golf cart),” Harrington explained after he had to answer the call of nature.

“I was on the third fairway at the time and it would have meant walking over to a toilet at the seventh that was more than 100 yards out of my away.”

Harrington was within tournament rules to ask for a ride to the clubhouse.