Golf: Clarke gets into fast lane

Darren Clarke was delivered a consolation prize for missing out on his first Major at Royal Lytham last week - a brand new Ferrari.

Car fanatic Clarke, 32, continued his good form but missed out on the Open title to David Duval.

Clarke finished in a bunch of players tied for third, including Bernhard Langer and Ernie Els, both of whom are competing in Holland this week.

The Ulsterman, who already has a Ferrari in England and another back home, now has a 550 Barchetta to add to the fleet.

There are only 40 right-hand drive such cars in the world.

‘‘I ordered it two years ago and picked it up from the Maranello Garage in Egham. I was there at three minutes past nine on Monday morning,’’ he said.

‘‘And no, it doesn’t make up for not winning the Open.’’

Clarke will play alongside another who impressed at Lytham - Finnish amateur Mikko Ilonen, in the first two rounds of the Dutch Open, which starts this morning.

Having triumphed in the European Open and finished joint runner-up in the Irish Open recently, Clarke will be looking to extend his form into the run-in to the Ryder Cup.

‘‘It’s been a good few weeks. I am playing nicely,’’ he said.

‘‘I love this course, it’s a great course, quite linksy again with a lot of breeze - I really enjoy it.

‘‘I want to win. I want to win tournaments and I always come and play here the week after the Open. I enjoy it, it’s a great tournament.

‘‘I am also playing next week (in Sweden) and that will be 12 out of 13 for me.’’

Australian Stephen Leaney, struggling of late, defends his title at Noordwijkse, where the par has been reduced to 71 from last year’s 72 following the slicing of the 14th to a par-four from a par-five.

He plays with two-times Dutch Open champion Bernhard Langer - hoping to get into the Ryder Cup reckoning with another good finish - while Englishman Lee Westwood is hoping to overturn his recent dip at a course he enjoys.

‘‘I played alright last year and finished third without holing any putts,’’ said Westwood.

‘‘I am looking forward to playing again.

‘‘I don’t know if my game is ready to click into place, it’s difficult to tell, I will know more on Sunday.’’

Latest leading positions in the first round of the Dutch Open at Noordwijkse, Holland (Gbr and Irl unless stated, par 71):

3 under - Nicolas Vanhootegem (Bel) (after 9 holes)

2 under - Ernie Els (Rsa) (6)

Andrew Coltart (6)

Maarten Lafeber (Ned) (6)

Jamie Spence (4)

Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) (6)