Clarke under no pressure

The 134th Open Championship began today at St Andrews with Darren Clarke carrying the main Irish hope in the absence of Padraig Harrington.

Sadly world number nine Harrington pulled out of the event on Tuesday morning after the death of his father Patrick from cancer the previous night.

That left the main focus on Clarke, who has had troubles of his own off the course as wife Heather battles cancer, and he only returned from a six-week break with his family just over a fortnight ago.

The Ulsterman is refusing to put any pressure on himself despite a good showing in finishing joint second in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond last week.

“I have no expectations. My confidence is not high. I will just go out and play,” he told the Press Association.

He is in good company for the first two days, teeing off with with two-time Open victor and world number three Ernie Els and Players Championship winner Fred Funk this afternoon.

Clarke’s Ryder Cup team-mate Paul McGinley is also one of the later starters and he is excited about the year’s third major returning to the home of golf after a five-year absence.

“Any time it is at St Andrews it is extra special and I am looking forward to it,” said the 38-year-old Dubliner, whose best finish in the Open is joint 14th in 1996 at Royal Lytham.

“In my opinion it is the biggest tournament of the year and obviously it is a big thrill to be playing in it.”

McGinley goes off at 2.09pm with Sergio Garcia and American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman while Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell also has a post-lunch start with 1997 Open winner Justin Leonard and Australian Mark Hensby – which suits the Portrush golfer just fine.

“I am happy with my tee times. I wanted a late-early and I have got it. I prefer that for some reason,” said the 25-year-old.

“I like to play early on Friday. It feels like the cut’s not in your head when you play early Friday.”

The 22-year-old British amateur champion Brian McElhinney, from Donegal, led off the Irish challenge in the morning partnering Australian Craig Parry (world number 42) and America’s Jerry Kelly (world number 50).

Dublin’s Peter Lawrie, who in 2003 became the first Irish golfer to win the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year title, has a less illustrious three-ball with Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and American Tom Byrum.