Clarke 'struggling' to qualify for US Open

Darren Clarke left himself a mountain to climb after three-putting the last three greens for a disappointing 75 in the first round of the US Open 36-hole qualifier at Walton Heath in Surrey today.

A total of 51 players were competing for nine places at Oakmont next week, but Clarke was down near the rear of the field at the halfway point.

“I’ve no excuses at all – I’m just struggling,” said the Ryder Cup hero, whose world ranking fell further to 94th today after a desperate run which has seen him miss his last five halfway cuts and pull out of three events because of a hamstring strain.

This was the first time Clarke has had to enter a qualifier for a major since the 1995 Open.

Dubliner Paul McGinley, the other member of last year’s team at the K Club taking part in the event, returned a one-under 71 on the longer Old Course and that kept his hopes alive.

“I was two-over after five and did well to shoot 71 after that, but I didn’t make enough birdies,” said McGinley.

“It’s more like a British Open than the US Open – really bouncy and tricky.”

The cup team-mates were playing with former cup players Jean Van de Velde and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Van de Velde had a level-par 72 with Clarke on the New Course, but Jimenez ran up a quadruple-bogey nine on the long 14th in his 74.

Early leader on six under was Australian Marcus Fraser. He was one ahead of England’s Sam Walker, while Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth shot 68 after playing most of the round on his own.

Australian playing partner Matthew Millar pulled out after three holes because of sickness.