Golf:It was a case of what might have been for Darren Clarke on the opening day of the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura where Robert Karlsson and Johan Edfors provide a strong Swedish representation at the top. There is, however, a strong Irish challenge at the business end of the leaderboard, with Paul McGinley leading the charge.
Clarke, one of eight Irishmen competing in the €3.6million event on the Algarve, was right up there before his round crash-landed and eventually had to settle for an opening level par 72.
The 42-year-old set off from the 10th and although he dropped a shot at the 12th, the deficit was recouped with birdies at 14 and 16 to turn in one under.
Further birdies followed at the first and second at the start of his inward nine but the round soon began to unravel.
Initial signs came with a bogey at the fifth only to bounce back with a birdie two at the next. However an untimely quadruple bogey eight at the seventh left Clarke, 27th in the Race to Dubai standings, with little time to rectify the situation.
He rallied with another two at the next before making par at the last for what turned into a wasteful round.
At the business end Karlsson and Edfors were in a three-way tie for the lead on eight under after they, and Maarten Lafeber from the Netherland's, all shot opening 64s at the Arnold Palmer-designed Victoria Course.
Karlsson was the model of consistency after starting his round on the 10th, picking up birdies at the first, 12th, 16th and 17th. He was equally efficient coming back, picking up shots at two, three, four and six.
Edfors did much of his good work in his back nine with five birdies to add to the three he converted on the way out, while Lafeber had an 11 birdie count against three dropped shots.
McGinleyis two adrift of the Swedes after a 66. Having started on the 10th the Dubliner turned on four under after birdies at the 11th, 12th, 14th and 15th. Another two shots picked up at the second and fourth in an otherwise perfect round moved him to six under.
Damien McGraneis next best of the Irish on five under, with Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin and Shane Lowrya shot adrift of him after 68s, and Michael Hoeytwo under.
Simon Thorntontravelled to Portugal, more in hope than expectation, as he was fifth reserve to get into the event. With time time running out to secure his tour card for next season the 33-year-old carded five birdies and five bogeys to end his day level par.
Of Europe’s Ryder Cup heroes, England’s Ross Fisher was best placed with a four-under 68. The Molinari brothers, and Miguel Angel Jimenez, were all at level par early in their opening rounds.