Clarke 'tempted' by offer of Guinness

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19: Port Royal was bathed in beautiful sunshine as the first spectators began to trickle onto the immaculate course early yesterday morning.

The green keepers and PGA staff had been up for hours putting the finishing touches to the Grand Slam event.

And U.S. Open Champion Rory McIlroy had already spent an hour in the gym, as he could not sleep.

“I went in from 6:30am to 7:30am. I went for a half an hour run and half an hour core,” he said.

“I was wide awake by 5:30am so instead of just doing nothing in the hotel room I thought I may as well go and do something.

“And to be honest, I didn’t really get a chance to do much gym work last week in China so it was an opportunity for me to get back in.”

Spectators catching the bus in from White Hill were given a rare glimpse of Morgan’s Point on their morning journey before scaling the ascent to a bustling Port Royal clubhouse.

Crowds had already started to gather around the practice greens an hour before the players set foot on the first tee.

While some families had set up camp on the fringes of the 18th hole to allow themselves ample time to take in the atmosphere as well as enjoy their home-made picnics.

By 10:30am hundreds lined the first fairway as Charl Schwartzel cracked his first shot down the middle.

He was followed by the young Irish champion Rory McIlroy, who sported a bright peach polo shirt and white trousers.

As always the biggest cheer of the morning was saved for the ever-popular Darren Clarke, who had obviously done his research on Bermuda and turned out in a bright pink top.

Finally, it was the American Keegan Bradley who slammed his first shot into the distance.

The four champions strode off down the fairway with the breeze at their backs and an entourage of stewards and spectators in their wake.

The Irish had turned out at Port Royal in force and every sound strike and successful putt from the Emerald Isle duo was greeted with shrieks of joy and cheers from the galleries.

But as McIlroy and Clarke struggled to master the slick Bermuda greens it was Bradley and Schwartzel who set the early pace in the morning warmth.

The wind picked up on the back nine and dark ominous clouds began to gather out at sea.

A generous set of spectators had set up a Guinness pit-stop for Clarke in their front garden at the back of the 14th hole. Their sign read: “This Guinness is for you Darren”.

He admitted his round was going so badly at the time he was tempted to drop in.

“I was very tempted to jump over the wall,” said the Irishman.

Everything changed at the 16th hole. The momentum switched from Bradley to McIlroy and the blue skies were usurped by dark clouds.

Torrents of rain whipped across the precarious par three and only McIlroy escaped unscathed. Both Clarke and Schwartzel found trouble off the tee and walked away with triple bogey sixes.

By this time most of the spectators had already run for cover.

The players had donned their wet-weather gear and the umbrellas had been raised to limited effect.

Bradley said: “On 17 it was the hardest rain I have played all year.

“It was blowing straight into our face hard.

“It was very difficult.”

The rain kept coming and ushered the foursome up to the 18th green where the first day’s honours were shared between McIlroy and Bradley.

The players headed for the media tent while the galleries headed for shelter and a welcome drink.

Ten minutes later the sun was back out again and Port Royal cut a picture of perfection as the crowds began to make their way home.

There’s plenty still to play for today.