Clarke having terrible day

Nick Dougherty, last season’s Rookie of the Year on the European tour, looked like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders in the third round of the Nissan Irish Open at Portmarnock today.

The 21-year-old from Liverpool, having survived his first halfway cut in six events going back to the Wales Open two months ago, birdied two of his first three holes to improve to three under par.