Clarke pays price for wayward putts

Darren Clarke’s Open Championship title defence was brought to a premature end last night after the Irishman failed to make the halfway cut at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Clarke became the sixth champion todefend his title but miss the halfway cut — Tom Watson missed a third-round cut in 1976 — after shooting rounds of 76 and 71, his second round not nearly good enough to get him under the cut line at three over par.

Despite an improved score, Clarke’s round featured two birdies and three bogeys to leave him at seven over to bring a disappointing end toa year fraught with troubles on the golf course sincehe lifted the Claret Jug at Royal St George’s 12 months ago.