Clarke lifted by 66

Words of wisdom from world renowned golf coach Bob Torrance and former Open champion Ernie Els helped Darren Clarke fashion one of best rounds of a dispiriting season in the Alfred Dunhill Links championship.

The 39-year-old Clarke heads into Saturday’s third round of the £2.5m event in a purposeful mood having carved out a six-under 66 over the Old course at St Andrews to move up to the fringes of the top 20 with a six-under aggregate of 138.

Clarke has endured a desperate dip in form in the wake of the tragic death of his wife, Heather, 14 months ago.

In that period the Ryder Cup player has toppled to 195th in the world rankings and 133rd on the European circuit’s order of merit.

The 10-time tour winner has also missed the cut in half of the 18 events he has played in this season with his best finish being 19th in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in July.

Prior to teeing up in his second round on Friday, Clarke was reunited on the driving range with swing guru Torrance, the veteran coach of Open champion Padraig Harrington. With playing partner Els also passing on some tips, Clarke roared back to form with a 66 which included an outward half of 29.

“Bob coached me for a long time when I was young,” said Clarke, who faltered on his back nine with a trio of bogeys but closed with two birdies to lie five behind leaders Hennie Otto, Peter O’Malley and Nick Dougherty.

“He saw me on the range and noticed my swing was too narrow. I knew that has been the problem but Bob asked me if I’d mind him pointing it out and I said no. It was good of him. I made a couple of changes with Ernie after he gave me some tips on the range too the previous night and it seems to be working at the moment,”

South African Els, who fired a 67 to lurk a shot off the pace with a ten-under 134, added: “He’s a good friend of mine and you feel for the guy.

“I’ve struggled, we’ve all struggled and he’s had a bit of a rough year, especially in his personal life.

“It’s got to be tough to concentrate on golf. He seems to really want to play well again. He’s helped me before when I had some tough times. That’s the way it is with us. He played great today and I told him that.”