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Barclays Scottish Open latest - Clarke finds his spark

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Barclays Scottish Open latest - Clarke finds his spark

Darren Clarke took the first-round lead at the Barclays Scottish Open yesterday, just weeks after the Northern Irish veteran had suggested a break from the game might be on the cards because of his poor form.

Clarke shot a flawless six-under-par 65 to lead by a stroke at the close of play at Loch Lomond, with Ireland's Damien McGrane in joint-second place along with early clubhouse leaders Edoardo Molinari and Graeme Storm. If the 40-year old Clark can continue yesterday's form over the next few days, he can earn himself a place in next week's Open Championship at St Andrews.

John Daly was the surprise of the day, shooting four-under-par to tie for eighth place, though the two-time major winner and former Open champion started today's second round with a bogey. South Africa's Ernie Els was two-under, after a round that included five birdies and three bogeys.

Japan's Ryo Ishikawa finished four under, the 18-year-old putting his playing partner and world No. 2 Phil Mickelson in the shade, as the Californian could only finish on level par. Mickelson did manage a pair of birdies, but they were wiped out by a double bogey on the 14th.

Mickelson went into this tournament knowing that a win or second place finish could earn him the No. 1 spot in the world rankings, but on yesterday's evidence Tiger Woods continuing dominance doesn't appear to be under immediate threat.

This was Graeme McDowell's first tournament since he won the US Open in Pebble Beach last month, and the Northern Irish player had a mixed bag of a round, coming home level par with four bogeys and an equal number of birdies.

Martin Kaymer may be ranked No. 12 in the world but he didn't have a great day yesterday, the German finishing two-over-par after a double bogey on the 10th. European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie may have been hoping Kaymer could put in a good performance, if only to justify selection for the October event - but Monty had problems of his own, the Scot ending the day three-over-par and looking unlikely to make the cut, barring a brilliant performance today.

And 2005 US Open winner Michael Campbell had another stinker, the New Zealander ending the day nine-over-par after shooting six bogeys - and a calamitous quintuple-bogey 10 on the five-par sixth. Two of those strokes were penalties, after the hapless Kiwi played an ineligible ball.

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