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Clarke credits putting lesson for fine Open start

Darren Clarke carded another round of 68 on Friday © Getty Images

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Darren Clarke revealed a late putting lesson with an old friend was the secret behind his resurgence after two rounds at the Open Championship.

The Northern Irishman compiled a second successive round of 68 to hold the early clubhouse lead on Friday at four-under, finding the cup with a 20-foot birdie putt at the 18th to add a flourish to his day.

Clarke won earlier in 2011 at the Iberdrola Open but subsequently saw his form fall away, but revealed a lesson with renowned putting and mental guru Dr. Bob Rotella on Wednesday afternoon enabled him to rediscover some better golf.

"Dr. Bob's thought process is very simply, and that seems to suit me very well," Clarke said. "I haven't been able to see him as I haven't been playing in America that much. Many have tried [to replace him], and I've broken many of them.

"I didn't see Dr. Bob until Wednesday, at which stage I was struggling a bit on the greens. I was hitting it well but struggling a little bit on the greens, and then I just found my feeling."

Clarke is no stranger to the top of an Open Championship leaderboard, having been somewhat unlucky to finish in a tie for second at the 1997 event at Royal Troon, before finishing third four years later at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The 42-year-old admitted he would be delighted to lift the Claret Jug, but refused to get carried away with the tournament not even at the halfway stage.

"It would mean an awful lot [to win the Open], but obviously this is only after two rounds," he said. "There's an awful long way to go yet, and I believe the forecast for the weekend is very, very poor - which I quite look forward to, but the course is going to play very, very tough.

"If that's the case, then the tournament is still wide open for an awful lot of players."

Clarke played in the 2006 Ryder Cup just weeks after the death of his wife Heather, but was unequivocal when asked if the emotions of that occasion would help him over the weekend.

"Nothing could be more difficult than that particular week," he said. "I wouldn't say it's a breeze [this week], but nothing would be more difficult than it was at The K Club."

Clarke, who was happy to laugh and joke with reporters after his Friday exploits, is looking to become the third Northern Irishman to win a maiden major championship in less than 18 months, after Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy's successive triumphs at the US Open.

However, he insists he does not feel any jealously towards his young countrymen, or any pressure to follow in their footsteps.

"Why would I be jealous? I'm more proud than jealous," he said, explaining how he mentored both. "I've played with them both a lot and just given them a little bit of advice about what to do and what to expect when they come out and turn pro. Just questions only really somebody on tour can answer.

"They took everything on board, and obviously all my advice was very, very good!"

Clarke also couldn't help but smile when asked about comments made by his manager, Chubby Chandler, suggesting he had put on a bit too much weight.

"Well, Chubby has always said that I play better fat, so I've been trying to adhere to that theory," Clarke joked. "He has been going on about points and Weight Watchers and everything all week. But, after seeing myself on television there, I think he might have a point."

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