Darren 'darn close to winning first Major'

DARREN CLARKE'S major credentials received a ringing endorsement yesterday from Masters champion Phil Mickelson after they had played together in the opening round of the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

The Dungannon man shot a level par 71 to 72 by Mickelson, who was so impressed by Clarke's ball-striking, he said: "I think Darren is very close to winning a Major. He's led a couple of times in the British and, indeed, had a great performance at Troon in 1997. I just think he has such a solid, penetrating ball flight and he's very good in the kind of tough weather we usually get in Majors. I think he's very close."

Whether it had anything to do with partnering Mickelson is difficult to say, but Clarke was in the most positive frame of mind I have seen from for quite some time. Said Clarke: "I hit the ball very well today. My striking was the best it's been for a long, long time. I just didn't hit it close enough. I also hit so many good putts that were going at the hole. Everything was off the middle of the club, so 71 is a more than it should have been."