Clarke makes startling recovery

Darren Clarke, so gloomy on the eve of the Quinn British Masters that he nearly quit and headed home from The Belfry, turned it around in stunning fashion today to lead the event.

The Ulsterman, his main focus understandably elsewhere with his wife Heather battling cancer, had described his pro-am round as “terrible” and added: “I don’t think I’ve got much chance of making the cut.