Open consolation for Clarke

DARREN CLARKE’S attempts to end a two-year winless drought finished with a St Andrews ‘consolation prize’ after letting slip victory in the Barclays Scottish Open.

Clarke began the last day at Loch Lomond just a stroke behind new champion Edorado Molinari of Italy, his challenge effectively ended when he needed three shots to get out of a water hazard at the third hole.

The 41-year old Clarke, who took a double-bogey, fell four strokes behind Molinari who birdied the hole on route to his 74 for a three-shot success at 12-under par tally.