Relaxed Clarke in three-stroke lead at Open

Darren Clarke is in a three-stroke lead with seven to play at the Open Championship, and is playing with a smooth confidence that has Irish spectators pinning hopes on another Irish Major win.

After 22-year-old Rory McIlroy’s US Open victory last month, today it was the turn of 40-somethings Clarke and Phil Mickelson to head the battle for the 140th Open Championship.