GOLF/British Masters: Darren Clarke shot a six-under-par 66 here yesterday to lead the field after one round of the British Masters, a performance which said a great deal about his talent as a player and even more about his failings as a clairvoyant.
"I don't think there is much chance of me making the cut," Clarke had said after Wednesday's pro-am, when he played so badly he considered pulling out of the tournament. Professional pride and a late-night session on the range with his swing coach saw him arrive on the 10th tee - his first hole of the day - at the appointed time.
Six birdies, one eagle and a couple of bogeys later he was as bemused by what had happened as he was pleased. "I talked myself out (of pulling out). It would not have been the right thing to do. But I was very frustrated with my game, to say the least," he said before adding: "There's still time to throw in an 80, don't you worry about that."
If that struck a gloomy note on a sunny day, Clarke should be allowed his pessimism. His wife Heather's continuing illness has meant he has not picked up a club for two weeks.
For another, the field at The Belfry is one of the strongest of the European year so far, with virtually every Ryder Cup hopeful taking part, as well as the US Open champion, Michael Campbell. Whoever wins here will need to be at the top of his game.
The amiable New Zealander, who has been enduring his traditional slow start to the season, emerged from his hibernation to produce a five-under 67, a shot behind Clarke and the Swede Peter Hanson, who had the chance to lead on his own until he three-putted the tricky final green.
Joining Campbell on five under was the Englishman Paul Casey, playing better and sounding happier than he has done for some time. When it comes to top-class golfers there is a direct correlation between mood and performance, though there are some notable exceptions.
Six years ago Jarmo Sandelin, a five-time winner on the European tour, was a Ryder Cup player.
Six months ago he was back at qualifying school trying to play his way back on tour, so he could start making a living again. The bank balance may have diminished but his optimism and sense of fun remains the same.
"Losing my card was a very severe wake-up call. When you are in a situation where your livelihood is disappearing, it's difficult. I had been living a comfortable life.
"When I lost the card, that was when I made an important decision to change my swing," he said, rising from his seat to recreate his old swing - a performance which brought to mind Lee Trevino's old line about "a caveman killing his lunch".
"When you look at my swing before the change and look at it now, it's like night and day. Of course a coach can only give you the tools. Then you have to be able to use them out on the course, and that is not simple."
For one day at least Sandelin, who also had a 67, made the game look exactly that: simple. Another three days of the same and his redemption will be complete.
For Paul McGinley, seventh in the Ryder Cup standing, and Pádraig Harrington is was a day to forget as Waterville's David Higgins led the Irish challenge.
McGinley and Harrington could do no better than 75, and Harrington had to birdie two of the last three for that.
Higgins mixed seven birdies with three bogeys in halves of 35 and 33 to trail by just two shot, while Graeme McDowell is on two-under-par 70 with Stephen Browne and Philip Walton on level par 72.
McDowell birdied the first but dropped a shot at the second in a first nine of 36 but three birdies in four holes from the 12th brought him back in 34.
Harrington, without a birdie, was five-over-par after 12 holes but birdies at the 16th and 18th cut the deficit to nine shots.
It was the opposite for McGinley, who double-bogeyed the first, but dropped shots at the last two in his 75.
With a 69 Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam left many of his likely team trailing in his wake, but Sam Torrance, captain of the 2002 side at the course and Europe's match-winner at The Belfry back in 1985, triple-bogeyed the last for a 79.
