Darren Clarke left the Augusta National locker room shaking hands with good friend Lee Westwood saying the next time he sees Westwood it will be wearing a green jacket.
The demeanour of two of Europe’s best golfers within the inner sanctum of Augusta could not have been more contrasting.
Despite an 18th hole double bogey in a round of 73 Westwood was in an upbeat mode lying one shot from the lead.
Clarke could not clear out his locker quicker enough after adding an 81 to his opening round of 73.
His 10-over par tally matches a similar 36-hole score in shooting scores of 83 and 71 on his last Augusta appearance in 2007.
And in heading for his courtesy car and a waiting flight to Atlanta and then onto Bermuda Clarke spoke of his disappointment on a second day when he had just one birdie but also seven bogeys and a 17th hole double bogey.
“I was so looking forward to coming back to Augusta but then to get injured last week hasn’t made the week that much fun,” he said.
“Conditions were a lot tougher today but I just played poorly again today, simple as that.
“I was looking forward to going to Bermuda but not on a Friday afternoon, and the problem is that I’ve had too many Friday afternoon’s packing up the clubs early.”
And while Clarke was rushing off to join fiancée, Allison Campbell and his two sons in the Caribbean, he shook Westwood’s hand saying: “Well, I hope the next time I see you you’re wearing a green jacket.”
