Spanish Open: Clarke's quick off the mark
Darren Clarke raced into an early lead at the Via Digital Spanish Open with a blistering start over the El Saler course.
In the fourth group out from the 10th tee, the 32-year-old Ulsterman birdied his first six holes in an extraordinary opening to move two shots clear of the field.
It was the best possible start for world number nine Clarke to make as he tried to put his setback at the US Masters behind him.
Clarke was set to make a genuine challenge for his first major at Augusta when moving to second place during his third round, but he fell away badly and was left to rue another missed opportunity.
His nearest challenger over the testing 6,952-yard course was Englishman Warren Bennett, who after picking up a shot at the 11th - his second - holed his second shot at the 348-yard 13th for an eagle two and then birdied the next to move to four under.
Elsewhere in the field the big names were finding the early going tough.
Local favourites Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal, both out early in their first tournament back after a spring sojourn on the US Tour, were level par and one over respectively.
Seve Ballesteros, who has won this event three times, was grouped with Olazabal to revive memories of the pair’s successful partnerships in the Ryder Cup. He made a steady start, parring his first six holes.
