Clarke predicts high cut

Darren Clarke confidently predicted the halfway cut at this week’s Nissan Irish Open will be the highest of the European Tour year so far.

The seven over par at last week’s British Masters at the Forest of Arden set a new mark but after practising at Colin Montgomerie’s Carton House course west of Dublin today Clarke said: “I think it will be a few more – at least.

“It’s stunningly difficult. With the wind we had today there are no let-up holes. It’s going to be a grind on every shot.

“It’s going to test everybody’s mental game and it’s going to be a long week.”

Padraig Harrington claims the fairways are the narrowest he has ever seen and Jose Maria Olazabal believes the bunkers are too deep.