Compiled by PHILIP REID

Clarke keeping on sunny side

THE prospect of a cold spell at home isn’t entirely to Darren Clarke’s liking, with the result he intends packing in a lot of golf on either side of the Christmas schedule.

After shooting an opening round 71 in his aim to break into the top-30 on the money list which would get him an exemption into next year’s British Open at Sandwich, Clarke revealed he would be playing alongside Graeme McDowell in the Shark Shoot-Out in Florida in a fortnight’s time and will then start his 2011 season by playing in the Africa Open and the JoBurg Open in South Africa at the start of January. On his reasoning for the intense early-year schedule, Clarke opined: “The weather in Portrush at that time is not conducive to hitting golf balls, so I might as well get down to the sun.”

The Ulsterman has targeted breaking back into the world’s top-50 by the late-March cut-off point for the US Masters. “I’m trying to get myself as high up the list as I can. That’s why I am working so hard. I feel as if I have been on the edge all year of playing well and not quite getting over the hurdle. I’m now playing a lot better and knocking on the door (in tournaments).”

Harrington taps in to his dismay

YOU don’t usually see a professional golfer admonish himself for a putt he holed, but Pádraig Harrington did just that after yesterday’s first round for the manner in which he putted out on the 15th.

Having left a par putt an inch from the hole, Harrington proceeded to tap in one-handed. “I’m gutted about it, distraught. I’ve never tapped-in a putt with the back of my putter in 14 years on tour. I’m disgusted I would be that lackadaisical. I was frustrated at the time but it showed a lack of discipline . . . I chastised (caddie) Ronan (Flood) for not chastising me. It’s not very professional.”

In golfing parlance, a golfer who performs the one-handed back-handed tap-in and misses is known as doing “a Hale Irwin”.

Noh no longer so star-struck

TEENAGER Seung-Yul Noh has gone past the stage where he was star-struck on the golf range at a pro tournament. The 19-year-old Korean – who made a breakthrough win on the European Tour when capturing the Malaysian Open earlier this season – is turning into a hardened campaigner and is aiming to take the next step and contend in the majors.

“This is my third pro season, so it’s not that I’m totally bug-eyed and awe-inspired every time I step on to the field. I’m getting used to playing with the big names and hopefully the next step will be to be able to hold my own when the pressure comes.

“If the situation comes, and even though I’m playing with a big player, I think the experience within the short time that I’ve played professional golf will kick in and help me out.” Sounds like a wise head on young shoulders.

Rory putts in some more work

RORY McIlroy’s opening 71 didn’t entirely please the 21-year-old Ulsterman, who – without pausing for any food – headed for the putting green for remedial work. “The greens were grainy, it was hard to trust yourself when you picked a line. I had a lot of left-to-right putts and I seemed to be pulling them . . . still with 54 holes left in the tournament, there’s a lot that can happen.”

Wee Mac’s last win on tour came in the Quail Hollow Championship on the US Tour in May, while his one and only win on the European Tour came in the Dubai Desert Classic almost 20 months ago.