Clarke on a downer

Another day of misery on the greens today left Darren Clarke in despair about next week’s US Open.

“I can’t compete putting the way I have been – and it’s irrelevant what the tournament is,” said the Ulsterman after a level-par 72 containing 35 putts in the third round of the Daily Telegraph Damovo British Masters at the Forest of Arden.

“My golf’s good enough tee to green, and I don’t know what I’m going to do about it because I’ve tried everything. No matter what, it’s not going in the hole.”

Asked about the second major of the year Clarke, only two under par with a round to go, trailed off his answer with the words “if I’m there”. But with that inevitably raising a further question, he quickly added: “I’m jesting.”

The 34-year-old Ryder Cup star flies to Chicago on a private jet tomorrow night, but it needs a miracle now for it to be with a third victory at the course under his belt.

Clarke’s English Open win at the midlands venue last June was his last anywhere -and with that event no longer on the European tour schedule he does not have a current title to his name.

Justin Rose and Brian Davis are flying with him – and Rose needs a confidence boost too after a 73 put him 69th of the 75 players on one over.

Davis, who qualified for the US Open in the States on Monday and then came back again, is best placed of the trio on five under after a 69.

But he admitted he felt tired.

“I’ve got a bit of a cough and cold as well. But I had my worst night’s sleep ever and struggled mentally.”