Clarke in title form

Darren Clarke, twice a runner-up in the Volvo PGA championship, signalled his intentions to go one better after an opening 66 at Wentworth today.

The six under par round gave the Ryder Cup star an early two-stroke lead over fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell and Justin Rose.

“The title is very high on my list of priorities,” Clarke had said before the event. “It’s right up there just below the majors and World Golf Championships.

“And this course is real golf – it’s taxing mentally and keeps you on your toes.”

Clarke began with eight pars in a row, but after a birdie at the ninth picked up further shots on the 11th and 12th.

Then came a superb eagle on the 571-yard 17th, where his fairway wood pulled up on the fringe about 20 feet from the flag.

And at the 531-yard last he was safely on in two and two-putted to move into the outright lead.

Three-time winner Colin Montgomerie and world number two Ernie Els were among the later starters, but former European number one Lee Westwood had another miserable time.

Nearly two years on from his last top 10 finish and now well outside the world’s top 200 Westwood returned only a three over par 75 to trail his stablemate by nine.

Rose, wearing a flower in his cap to help raise funds for a hospital where his late father was treated for leukaemia, did not drop a stroke all day like Clarke.

Birdies came at the third, fifth, 13th and 17th and Rose, joint fifth in Germany last week, said: “It was nice to keep the momentum going. I’m very pleased – it was a good solid round.”

McDowell was also fifth last week and he matched Clarke’s eagle on the 17th to get back on the leaderboard.

Nick Faldo, playing with Clarke, birdied the last for a one under 71. He was a real mixed bag on the front nine with three pars, three birdies and three bogeys.

New Zealander Michael Campbell had a three under 69 on his return from the US Tour, where he has been having a horrid time this season, while double Order of Merit winner Retief Goosen birdied the final three holes for a 72 – after being three over at the turn.