Clarke three off leader Wood

GOLF: IRELAND’S Darren Clarke battled back from a double bogey at the third and a further dropped shot at the ninth, to shoot a level par 70 and lie just three shots behind leader Chris Wood at the Iberdrola Open in Mallorca.

One shot behind Clarke and England’s Matthew Nixon on four under were another Englishman, David Lynn, and France’s Thomas Levet.

A further stroke back were Ireland’s Simon Thornton, Scotland’s Paul Lawrie and England’s Danny Willett, who was second overnight, as golfers from the British Isles made up seven of the top eight.

Englishman Wood, 23, who burst onto the scene with a fifth-place finish as an amateur at the Open in 2008, added a five-under 65 to his opening 67.

Wood carded six birdies and was on course to lead by four until a bogey at the par-four 16th knocked him back a stroke.

A further stroke back were Ireland’s Simon Thornton, Scotland’s Paul Lawrie and England’s Danny Willett, who was second overnight, as golfers from the British Isles made up seven of the top eight.

For overnight leader Gregory Bourdy, yesterday was as bad as Thursday was good.

After taking control with a course-record seven-under-par 63, he was seven over yesterday, a triple-bogey seven at the 12th doing much of the damage, and finished the day tied for 21st on level par.