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Clarke on song in Madrid

14/09/2006

Darren Clarke began his preparations for next week's Ryder Cup in style by shooting an opening-round 68 in the Madrid Open.

The 38-year-old Northern Irishman is playing in his first event for eight weeks having taken time away from the game due to the sad death of his wife Heather from cancer on August 13th.

Clarke showed no sign of rustiness today as he started his round from the tenth with two birdies in the opening four holes.

A dropped shot on the 16th, his seventh, temporarily reined him back but three more birdies on his back nine saw him surge to four under par and into a share of sixth.

"With a warm putter I would have been a lot better," said a buoyant Clarke, who sits just three shots behind clubhouse leader Jean-Francois Lucquin.

"I hit 17 greens but I had 31 putts. The greens were a bit slow, not just for me but my playing partners as well."

Commenting on how he felt being back, he added: "I'm not sure I had butterflies but you're always a little bit apprehensive before any round. I wanted to get off to a good start and I did."

Three more good rounds will provide the perfect preparation for Clarke who is set to make his fifth Ryder Cup appearance at the K Club.

Meanwhile, Clarke's playing partner today was Thomas Bjorn, the Danish golfer who was overlooked for a wildcard by Europe's captain Ian Woosnam.

Bjorn had publicly criticised Woosnam for selecting Lee Westwood instead of him but he showed no signs of distraction today as he shot a solid 69.

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