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 You are in: Special Events: US Masters  |
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Saturday, 7 April, 2001, 12:23 GMT 13:23 UK
Clarke shoots up Masters field
Darren Clarke had a great run of second round birdies
Darren Clarke, who this week signed a deal that will earn him £2million for
every Major he wins in the next 10 years, had no intention of letting it enter his mind on Saturday.
Joint 12th at halfway in the Masters after a brilliant second round 67, the Ulsterman knew he could not afford to get ahead of himself for a moment when he teed off again. Patience remained the key for Clarke as he looked to make up his five-stroke deficit on surprise leader Chris DiMarco and to cover any moves from the rest of the chasing pack. "When you try to go looking for birdies that's when you end up making bogeys, double-bogeys or worse," said the 32-year-old. Clarke is delighted to be in the position he is only three weeks after his game looked in a desperate state.
He was almost last of those who missed the cut at the Bay Hill Invitational, but some sessions with coach Butch Harmon have paid massive dividends. Vital hours have also been spent with sports psychologist Bob Rotella. "Bob changed my outlook," he said. "When I am struggling I get all technical and try to hit the perfect shot all the time. Wrong places "But that's not realistic and that is what he has been drumming into me. "It has been said by more learned people than me that patience is the key around here. "The best piece of advice I have been given on my three previous trips is not to hit it in the wrong places. "I've done it a few times already and paid the penalty, but I have managed to stay fairly relaxed and I am hitting a lot of good shots."
Being in contention for a Major is not a totally alien situation for Clarke. He led the 1997 Open at Troon by four after nine holes of the third round, but had only two European tour titles to his name then and had never appeared in the Ryder Cup. It told and Justin Leonard took the title. He was a fine eighth on his Augusta debut the following year and in the last two majors of last season - both won by Woods, of course - he was seventh and ninth. Fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington is also among the 47 players who survived the cut, improving six strokes on an opening 75 to make it through by one on level par.
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See also:
05 Apr 01Â |Â US Masters
05 Apr 01Â |Â US Masters
04 Apr 01Â |Â US Masters
Top US Masters stories now:
Links to more US Masters stories are at the foot of the page.
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