U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 4, 2026

Darren Clarke

Scioto Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, not sure if you're already aware, but low round of the week with the 64. How does that feel?

DARREN CLARKE: Yeah, good. I didn't hit it very good first two rounds. Very poor yesterday. Hit too many really poor shots.

Then today figured a little something out. I was tilting a little bit too much on my spine angle was changing too much, so stayed more on top of it and hit a lot of really good shots.

You know, it's always frustrating to have a good chance on seven and good chance there on nine and I missed those.

But I made a nice (indiscernible), so all in all pretty good.

Q. What went into the preparation for today? Obviously 71, 72 and jumped to a 64. That's quite the jump.

DARREN CLARKE: Yeah, I just played better. You know, out here if you drive the ball well, which you have to with the rough and what have you, but the fairways are reasonably generous for a U.S. Open, and I made the most of it.

Hit it close and missed it from, I don't know, four feet on the first hole this morning for birdie as well. But I had a lot of good shots in close and made the most of it.

Q. And then I was wondering if you could tell me about that stretch four through six, the two birdies and especially the eagle?

DARREN CLARKE: Four I hit a really nice 6-iron straight down the flag to about 12 feet short; hit a nice shot in. Nice 3-wood of the next tee. Lovely 6-iron again to about 12 feet in. Driver off -- on the next one. A little cupped 5-wood to three feet in for eagle. They're the nice eagle putts you like.

Q. After the round today obviously you're in the hunt. Do you feel like you're close enough to the leaders to make a run at it tomorrow?

DARREN CLARKE: Yeah, depends what they finish up. You got two of the best players on the Champions TOUR and in the world in the over 50s in Stewart and Padraig. I think I'm going to have to go even lower tomorrow if I want to give myself a chance.

It's nice to be shoot a 6-under.

Q. And then Padraig is one of them, but seems like it's a little bit of a reunion from your 2016 Ryder Cup. Have you been able to talk to those guys?

DARREN CLARKE: Yeah, I got play with Poults first two rounds, which was wonderful. And obviously Miguel as well. We've all played Ryder Cup together. So no, it's been a brilliant week.

Sensational golf course. The USGA, the way they set the golf course up here is just been absolutely superb this week. I mean, that's as good as it gets.