Clarke’s form just what doctor ordered

A RENEWAL of acquaintances with Dr Bob Rotella and a return to home comforts were the ingredients behind Darren Clarke’s best British Open round in six years.

Clarke, whose runner-up finish at Troon in 1997 was one of three top-10 finishes in the championship, opened his 2011 campaign with a two-under-par 68 at Royal St George’s yesterday that leaves him three shots behind overnight leaders Thomas Bjorn and amateur Tom Lewis heading into today’s second round.

It was between the ears that Clarke, 42, received his biggest boost this week ahead of his five-birdie, three-bogey round with a pre-tournament consultation with sports psychologist Rotella.