Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke were heading from one side of Florida to the other very much needing a turnaround in fortunes at this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in suburban Orlando.

The duo, while buoyed by Ireland’s dramatic Six Nations triumph, had little to cheer about following their efforts in the Valspar Championship in Tampa Bay.

Harrington exacted some revenge on The Snake Pit with a last hole birdie but struggled under the weight of four earlier bogeys and a third hole double in a score of 74 for a seven over par tally.

“It’s always nice to end any round with a birdie but I just got punished again for too many bad shots,” he said.

Darren Clarke plays into the final hole on day four of the Valspar Championship.

“Overall looking back on the week there was some good and some bad but then it’s still tough out there and there is going to be some interesting viewing this afternoon.”

Harrington had to play the final nine holes on his lonesome after playing partner and fellow British Open winner Mark Calcavecchia withdrew with a stomach complaint.

Harrington will be making his first visit to Palmer’s event at Bay Hill since 2009 when he finished just one place outside the top-10.

Clarke looked resplendent in Augusta National green coloured trousers and walked off in the group ahead of Harrington having bogeyed the last from the middle of the fairway in a round of 72 for a six over par tally.

“I’m getting in early for St. Pat’s Day,” he said.

“But in looking back on my week I played an awful lot of good golf but just didn’t play great at the start and struggled picking the right clubs in the wind we had this week.”

Clarke will be competing in Palmer’s event for a first occasion since 2007 but with fond memories of sharing third place in 2006.