Darren Clarke planning to improve position at Ballantine's Championship after hitting +5 in the first round
Newly remarried, Darren Clarke, is aiming to score well in the next three rounds of the Ballantine's Championship.
The 43-year-old Northern Irishman shot a 5-over 77 in the first round of the European Tour event, being played at the Blackstone Golf Club, Icheon in Seoul, South Korea.
Clarke recently married Alison Campbell, the former Miss Northern Ireland. He celebrated his wedding ceremony in Bahamas. After making his personal life successful, he is hoping to make some progress in his golfing career as well.
The star player is also aiming to end the era of poor performance in this event. After July 2011, he started facing tough challenges on the course. Although determined to bounce back, he has not been able to play well so far.
The Northern Irishman played a poor round on Thursday, as he scored six unimpressive bogeys. He impressed the spectators only once, after shooting a birdie on the 14th hole.
He dropped to the lowest position on the leaderboard after such a mediocre performance in South Korea. Still, he believes that he has ample chances to be among the top-25 players after the next rounds.
"I don't know how I am going to play," Clarke said. "I have been frustrated for quite some time. I have been putting in a lot of hard work and not getting the scores".
"But I have opened one new chapter in my life by getting married again so hopefully now I can open a new chapter in my golf. I am fed up of playing poorly so it's time to change that".
He finished the first round nine strokes behind the leader Victor Dubuisson, who scored a 4-under 68 on Thursday, April 26, 2012.
Dubuisson secured the leading position by scoring eight birdies. He also faced some challenges on the 4th, 10th and 16th hole, where he carded a double-bogey and some bogeys.
Clarke is in danger zone now, and it is quite possible that he will miss the cut at the Ballantine's Championship. However, in order to finish among the leaders, he has to be fully committed to golf from Friday till Sunday.
He has to save bogeys, as only birdie strokes and pars will benefit him in the second round.
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