Injury troubles Clarke

Darren Clarke was still being troubled by a groin injury on the eve of The Masters. “Sore,” was how the Open champion described himself after an early nine holes of practice yesterday, and it led to him joining Luke Donald in deciding not to play the par-three competition.

“I don’t think another nine holes is going to do it any good,” Clarke said. The 43-year-old first struggled with the problem as he missed the halfway cut at the Houston Open last Friday.

The undulating Augusta National is no easy walk, but at least the Northern Irishman avoided the main heat of the day again.

His first practice session did not begin until nearly 5pm on Tuesday and he completed the back nine before 10am yesterday morning.

Donald was the winner of the par-three competition title last year, but wanted to keep his focus on the tournament proper this time. Last year’s Masters runner-up Jason Day, meanwhile, is battling an ankle injury but was confident of teeing up today. “There was discomfort but it would take a lot for me to miss a Masters,” he said.