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.