Clarke keeping one eye on Muirfield

Darren Clarke still proudly lays claim to being the first player to have competed at Castle Stuart, the host for this week’s Scottish Open, who then went on the following week to win the British Open.

His good friend Ernie Els was the second and heads to Muirfield next week as defending champion. And while Clarke has struggled to show anywhere near the form that helped him lift the famed Claret Jug at Royal St George’s, there was is no denying his enthusiasm to become Ireland’s second double-winning British Open champion in seven years.

“When the Tour first came here to Castle Stuart in 2011 I played really, really well for the first two rounds but then I had a tough day on the Sunday,” he said.

“However I was flushing the ball well all week and I took that form down to Royal St George’s so it would be great if I could again what I did two years ago.

“But whether my game is ready for a Major Championship next week, I really don’t know. I’ve been practising hard back home at Royal Portrush, so it’s not for a lack of trying. In competition this year, and for a long time now, I have been hitting the ball fairly well but not scoring well come Thursday.

“I’ve been throwing in loose shots here and there and that’s incredibly frustrating because my practice has been great. So I will just keep working hard and keep doing what I have been doing and hopefully one of these days it will all turn around for me with another victory.

“But there is one thing: no matter what, my name will always be on that Claret Jug. That’s why I am looking forward so much to returning again to an Open Championship.”