Harrington and Clarke turn attentions towards Bay Hill

Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke last night were heading across Florida needing a turnaround in fortunes at this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in suburban Orlando.

The duo, while buoyed by Ireland’s dramatic Six Nations triumph, had little to cheer about after their efforts in the Valspar Championship in Tampa Bay.

Harrington did manage a last hole birdie on the Copperhead course but struggled under the weight of four earlier bogeys and a third hole double in a score of 74 for a seven over par tally.

Harrington had to play the final nine holes on his lonesome after playing partner and fellow British Open winner Mark Calcavecchia withdrew complaining of a stomach complaint.

Harrington will be making his first visit to Palmer’s event at Bay Hill since 2009, when he finished just one place outside the top 10.

Clarke looked resplendent in Augusta National green trousers and walked off in the group ahead of Harrington having bogeyed the last from the middle of the fairway in a round of 72 for a six over par tally.

Clarke will be competing in Palmer’s event for the first occasion since 2007 but with fond memories of sharing third place in the event back in 2006.

- Spain’s Alejandro Canizares led from start to finish and ended an eight-year winless drought in capturing the Hassan 11 Trophy in Agadir, Morocco.

Former champion Michael Hoey (70) was the best of the Irish, sharing 30th place on four under par.