Sugrue puts down a morning marker
ON the seventh tee yesterday, Darren Clarke turned to James Sugrue and laughed. ‘You came through my foundation James and, right now, I’m leading the Open and you’re second,’ he said. As a rainbow caressed the links, the former Open champion and the current amateur champion were three and two under par respectively. What they would have given to finish on those scores, although there was nothing shabby about signing for a pair of level-par 71s. And Sugrue saluted Clarke for making him feel so at ease. ‘He was an absolute gent. On nine, I had a four-footer and he tapped his putter off my back and said, “Role that one in”.’ Out first, this was a tee time Sugrue couldn’t afford to sleep it out for, unlike his last Portrush visit for the 2017 North of Ireland Championship when he missed his slot and was disqualified. Yesterday, he set the alarm for 4am. ‘I wouldn’t get up (at that time), only for this.’ Like so many yesterday, Sugrue suffered a hint of stage fright on the first, which is framed by high stands on the tee, and out of bounds pegs left and right. ‘It was definitely the most nervous I’ve ever been on a golf course. Darren walked in on front of me and the roar was unbelievable. ‘My only thought was, “Don’t hit it out of bounds”.’ After a fine 71, the 22year-old from Mallow has the chance to claim the Silver Medal awarded to the lowest-scoring amateur at the Open. Sugrue is the best of six others heading into today. ‘I can’t wait for tomorrow. I can’t wait not to set the alarm for 4am as well.’ Depending on how he copes today, Sugrue might have a couple of more lie-ins yet.