Darren and Davis share Ryder point, cigars and friendship

THERE were many thrilling moments and matches at Oakland Hills yesterday but few to touch the battle between Davis Love III and Darren Clarke who are such close friends that it seemed as if they were both happy in the end to settle for a half.

It was an astonishing affair with Love, the 6th ranked golfer in the world, certainly looking the part early on as his beautiful approach play coupled with some poor putting by Clarke, moving into a two hole advantage after seven holes. Clarke got one back at the 8th but each of the next six were shared until the American took what appeared to be a match-winning grip when moving two in front again when Clarke took bogey at the 14th.

However, the battle was really joined when Darren punched a delightful short iron to five feet for a birdie on 16 and levelled it with an awesome thirty foot chip from the thick rough at the back of the green that rolled gently into the cup for a two. Now all square, Clarke blazed a perfect drive down the final fairway and Love, who must by now have been shaking in his boots, pulled into the left rough and a horrendous lie.