Clarke shines at calm Whistling Straits

Britain's Darren Clarke felt completely at home at links-style Whistling Straits in the U.S. PGA Championship first round on Thursday.

He had described the 7,514-yard course as "brutally difficult" but, with the anticipated winds never materialising and his putting touch sublime, he fired a seven-under-par 65 to take early charge in the final major of the year.

The par-72 Straits Course, the longest layout in major championship history, is modelled on an Irish seaside links and Clarke, reunited with his former caddie, revelled in the relatively benign conditions.

"I didn't think practising on Sunday that, for the first round, I would be able to shoot 65," the Northern Irishman told reporters.

"But we got fortunate with the conditions this morning. The greens were holding, and we were able to fire at the flags that we were not able to do earlier in the week.

"I rolled the ball well on the greens so, all in all, I'm very pleased with 65."

Clarke, who mixed nine birdies with bogeys on nine and 13, paid tribute to American short-game expert Stan Utley, who had advised him earlier in the week.

"Stan's been very good," he said. "He's trying to get me to hit the putter on more of an arc basically. My hands are a little bit further forward than they have been for some time."

Clarke said he had been put on to Utley by American Ryder Cup player Jay Haas.

"It was Jay's suggestion last year at the Tour Championship in Houston," he said. "I was struggling a bit there as well.

"Jay said: 'You should try and see Stan Utley. He's been really good, and he's worked out very well for me.'

"As you can see from Jay's putting stats, he's rolling it pretty well."

Clarke, who tied for 11th at last month's British Open, was also delighted to be back with his old caddie Billy Foster.

"Billy worked for me for seven years before, after some wisdom, I thought I should try some other people," he said.

"It has been fantastic to have Billy back again. He's a very decent player himself and he read putts for me before when we worked together. He's done a good job today."

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