Clarke gets back in the groove

IT was not the preceding six birdies but the two-metre putt for par on the final green that delighted Darren Clarke most on the opening day of the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

Clarke had stood in the middle of the fairway moments earlier leading the tournament by a stroke and with rain pouring down he looked a little dispirited after sending a 7-iron second shot into a greenside bunker.

However, the 41-year old then managed to get his third to within six feet from where he holed a testing putt to card a six-under par 65 and maintain his lead in the event being played along the shores of the famous Scottish loch.