Whether he wore the shirt for a bet or not wasn't clear, but anyone willing to sport a yellow top with different tropical flowers can't be too down in the mouth.

Despite the apparent fashion statement of self-confidence, Darren Clarke's expectations are such, however, that even a birdie-birdie finish - to lift himself into a top-10 finish - wasn't sufficient to clear away the disenchantment with his game.

"I haven't got a game," he claimed. "I hit the ball terrible, hit only eight greens (in regulation) and the only thing about those two birdies at the end is that it gave me a totally flattering score."

On a day when the other Irish players were in reverse mode, Clarke at least kept some forward momentum. A final round 70 for nine-under-par 279 gave him tied-eighth position, but his post-round comments were those of a man seeking in vain to rediscover his flair.

Clarke, midway through a six-week stint on the circuit, that will end with the US Open in three weeks, said: "When my game is not right, I tend to revert to a lot of knockdown shots. . . but I wasn't even hitting those well today."

While Clarke moves on to Woburn on the other side of London for this week's British Masters, starting on Thursday, Padraig Harrington - who crashed to a closing 76 for 287 - has decided to withdraw from that tournament and won't play again until the US Open in Tulsa.

Harrington was suffering from an old ankle injury yesterday, a throw-back to one that he suffered in his amateur days some nine years ago.

"It might have flared up because I have worked so hard this past week, but, to be honest, my concentration has been poor and that is something that I will have to work on," he said.

Indeed, the sense of despondency extended to Paul McGinley too. From the 72 players who had made the cut, he ranked number 69 in the putting stats.

"That about sums it up for me. There's no doubt the putter let me down, but I just haven't had the focus or intensity of the past few weeks and I am glad to get a break this week," said McGinley, who has decided to bypass the British Masters.

The Dubliner finished his tournament with 71 for four-under-par 284 which was some way behind his expectations. "It's the end of a disappointing week that had promised so much," remarked McGinley.

He will play in next week's English Open and then take a break until the Irish Open in Fota Island.

One of the problems that David Higgins has had this season is surviving all four days at tournaments.

With 10 missed cuts in his previous 14 outings, at least he stayed around until the final round here and actually showed some form on the front nine which he covered in three-under.

"I feel some form coming back," remarked Higgins, who eventually finished with a 71 for level-par 288.

For Damien McGrane, it was a trying day. "I'm broken, battered and twisted," said the Wexford club professional, who fell to a closing 79 for 289.

Part of the reason for his downward slide yesterday, McGrane believed, was because he felt rushed. "I have blisters on my feet from power walking.

"I never felt relaxed, and it meant I was making quick decisions that turned out to be wrong decisions," he said.

From Wentworth, McGrane moves back to a taste of reality later in the week for the Wexford Pro-Am before returning to the Challenge Tour circuit next week for a tournament in Denmark.

Elsewhere, Eamonn Darcy - who plans to play in the British Masters and the following week's English Open - struggled with his irons and finished on the same 287 mark as Des Smyth.

Darcy, though, was happy that the Seve Ballesteros Trophy will take place at his attached club Druids Glen next year - something that will be officially confirmed today - while Harrington remarked: "I think it is great for Irish golf."