Jean-François Luqcuin leapt into the lead of the XXXII Banco Madrid Valle Romano Open de Madrid Golf Masters, but the main focus at La Moraleja II on the outskirts of the Spanish capital fell on Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, who made a significant return to The European Tour with an excellent four under par 68.
While Lucquin was carving out an outstanding first round of seven under par 65, Clarke was making his first appearance on Tour since his wife, Heather, died on August 13, after a two year battle with breast cancer.
The 38 year old, who will represent Europe in next week’s Ryder Cup, addressed the world’s media on Wednesday for the first time since his wife’s passing, and in an emotional press conference spoke of his desire to try and bring a sense of normality back to his life for the sake of his children, his family and himself.
He embarked on his first round with those sentiments very much in mind and proceeded to show just why Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam had no reservations about selecting him as one of his two wild card picks after Clarke had informed the Welshman that he was ready to play at the K Club next week.
Woosnam will no doubt be delighted with Clarke’s performance, as well as those of Padraig Harrington and José Maria Olazábal, who carded respective first rounds of five and one under par.
Clarke started his round on the tenth tee at La Moraleja II in the company of two of his former Ryder Cup partners Thomas Björn and Miguel Angel Jiménez. He opened up with a solid par four before birdieing the 11th to move to one under par. A fine eight iron to 15 feet yielded a second birdie of the day on the par three 13th, before he dropped his only stroke of the opening round at the par five 17th.
Three straight pars followed before Clarke produced a rousing finish of three birdies in his last eight holes to card a 68, which left him three behind Lucquin amongst a bunch of six players on four under, including defending champion Raphaël Jacquelin of France.
“Obviously I wanted to play well, I didn’t want to go out and shoot 73 or 74 and have you guys on my case,” grinned Clarke as he addressed journalists after signing his scorecard.
“I am pleased to shoot 68. I played well – I had 31 putts and hit 17 greens so I played well. I missed a lot of chances and played really well. With a warm putter I would have been an awful lot lower.
“The greens were just a little bit slow today. We all struggled on the greens today, it wasn’t just me. Miguel and Thomas and myself didn’t make our share of putts at all. The greens are a decent quality but none of us got on a roll and holed many.
“I’m pleased with the start as I said – I am not here to make up the numbers. I am here to try and contend. I set myself the goal to play well and I did that.”
Lucquin certainly played well over La Moraleja II. The Frenchman’s rediscovery of his touch on the greens, coupled with some magnificent iron play, saw him make eight birdies on his way to a seven under par 65.
He leads by one from South African Darren Fichardt and Spain’s Miguel Angel Martin, with Sweden’s Joakim Bäckström, Argentina’s Rodolpho Gonzalez, Harrington, Scotsman Gary Orr and England’s Ian Poulter tied on five under.
