• Open Championship, Day Three

Sunday lead holds no fear for fun-loving Clarke

Darren Clarke smiles as he walks down the fairway © PA Photos

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This was supposed to be the major dominated by European, nay British, players - yet only a handful remain to thwart the American invasion, an onslaught that no-one seriously expected to happen.

The game on the other side of the Atlantic is supposed to be in a fallow period at the minute, having seen its players fail to claim a major in five attempts. Europeans, meanwhile, have taken three of them.

As a result, Royal St George's was supposed to be another domestic coronation. Instead, the primary Home Nations contenders (Lee Westwood and Luke Donald) went home early, leaving Darren Clarke virtually alone to fly the flag.

At five-under following a third round in the 60s (this time a 69), he'll take the lead going into Sunday's final round - one shot clear of Dustin Johnson. Including Johnson, ten of the remaining top 16 are American, while only Thomas Bjorn and Miguel Angel Jimenez (with Martin Kaymer and Anders Hansen hanging from their coattails) are offering a contribution of note in what has been characterised in some quarters as something of a phoney Ryder Cup.

'DC' as he is affectionately known by many on tour (or @theprincedc as he calls himself on Twitter) is playing in his 20th Open Championship. He's been in contention a few times - most notably at Royal Troon in 1997 - but never managed to close the deal.

Not that he ever gave up any hope that he'd be back in this position at some point - even if his last real shot at the Claret Jug came in 2001.

"Did I ever doubt I would get myself back in this position? No," Clarke said, temporarily taking on both sides of his post-round press conference. "Did I know it was going to happen? No. Did I hope it was going to happen? Yes. But did I ever doubt it? No."

A man who loves a cigar or two and a Guinness or three, the 42-year-old knows how to enjoy life but equally has experienced the harsher side of life. In 2006 his wife, Heather, died after a long battle with breast cancer. The Northern Irishman is engaged to be married again (to a former Miss Ireland introduced to him by Graeme McDowell), and the rollercoaster of life will ensure he keeps Sunday's storyline - however it may end up being written - firmly in perspective.

"Nothing could be more difficult than that particular week," he said on Friday, when asked about whether he would draw on the experience of the Ryder Cup in 2006 - his first tournament after his wife's passing - over the weekend. "I wouldn't say it's a breeze [this week], but nothing would be more difficult than it was at The K Club."

Consequently, he doesn't hide away from what winning the championship would mean to him, but equally he is not going to let the hours between now and Sunday's tee time become an oasis for anxiety and self-doubt.

"I've done nearly everything in golf, but a major has eluded me," Clarke noted. "Tomorrow I have a decent chance, strong winds are predicted again, a major's always tough to win but I have a chance, and I can't ask for anything more."

When asked how he will prepare, he added: "I'll stuff my face and try not to drink too much. Then I'll wake up in the morning and probably stuff my face again! I can while away the time very easily. That doesn't bother me in the slightest."

Clarke will tee it up in the final twosome with Dustin Johnson, a player almost from the opposite end of the spectrum. Younger, fitter and much, much longer off the tee - the American will provide a contrasting style to his more-experienced and worldly-wise rival.

Johnson may be one of the biggest hitters on the PGA Tour but he didn't come into this championship as a hotly tipped contender, despite a solid showing last time around at St Andrews. Often, not always unfairly, characterised as lacking in a certain amount of intelligence (his meltdown on the final hole at the 2010 USPGA Championship a familiar stick with which he is beaten), the American has been razor-sharp in plotting his way around St George's.

"I try to steer clear of the bunkers off the tee," Johnson said. "Around the greens you can get up and down, but off the tee if you hit it in the bunker, you're chipping out every time.

"If I can't get around them or get over them, then I try to stay short of them or play away from them. I've done a good job of that the last three days. If you keep it on the right side of the hole and keep it where you need to, then most of the time you have a pretty easy chance to make par.

"The course suits my eye. I definitely didn't see myself in the final group on Sunday, but I think I've definitely played well enough to do that."

Johnson will be methodical in his pursuit of the Claret Jug. Battle-hardened from recent failures at Whistling Straits and Pebble Beach, he knows what to expect and expects to rise to the occasion. "Obviously I would rather have the lead because it's one shot less I've got to make up," he noted. "But going out tomorrow I'm still going to have to play aggressive when I can and then play smart when I have to."

Clarke has long since learned such lessons. While many players - including Johnson - have spent plenty of time on the range ironing out flaws and perfecting the required shots for each hole, Clarke has primarily credited a Wednesday lesson with putting and mental coach Dr Bob Rotella for his efforts so far.

That, and a piece of advice given to him by an old friend and former professional, Ken Brown, on the eve of his first Ryder Cup appearance in 1997: 'Don't let your golf game determine your attitude, let your attitude determine your golf game'," Clarke recalled. "If my attitude is good, then the ball-striking is going to be good. If my attitude is not so good, then nothing is going to be good."

Clarke, the self-styled prince, has entertained everyone over the first three days at Royal St George's with an attitude that has also proved wonderfully conducive to low scoring. If he can take that into the final round, then come Sunday evening he's got every chance of being crowned a very popular King.

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