Cool Clarke reigns in Spain

DARREN CLARKE ended a three-year winless drought in Mallorca but Graeme McDowell couldn’t make it an Irish double as he imploded with a final round 79 in the Players Championship at Sawgrass.

The US Open champion was one stroke clear of David Toms and Korea’s KJ Choi on 12 under after carding a 68 in the weather-delayed third round yesterday morning.

But the running repairs he made to his swing with coach Pete Cowen last weekend failed to stand up under pressure and he finished eight shots outside a play-off between eventual winner 40-year-old Choi and 42-year-old Toms in a share of 33rd on five under par.