GOLF/English Open: Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke, Ryder Cup partners and close friends for so long, suffered the agony and the ecstasy in the Compass Group English Open at the Forest of Arden yesterday.

Clarke - winner of the event two of the last three years - shared the first-round lead with Australian Jarrod Moseley after a seven-under-par 65.

He will fly to New York for the US Open next Monday, he hopes with his first victory since last July under his belt.

He reckoned a 65 was the worst he could have shot after abandoning the same belly putter which Colin Montgomerie - resting this week - has employed to such good effect in the past month.

"It's now gathering dust in the garage," said the Ulsterman. "In the first five holes last Sunday I didn't hit it outside eight feet and didn't make any of them.

"Then I bogeyed the sixth and at that point it did well not to become a flying object. It could also have become a short putter very easily.

"I thought I'd try something else to see if I could hole some and I gave it a go for a couple of weeks, but it wasn't for me. Not yet anyway."

The change back to conventional size worked a treat. Clarke did three-putt the long seventh for par, but seven birdies elsewhere made it his best day's work in Europe this season.

His win in 1999 came at Hanbury Manor, but he successfully defended the title at the Forest of Arden - finishing with a 65.

Since he was fifth last year it was no surprise to see him pitching up while most Europeans in the US Open elected not to play.

But Westwood, 20 months on now from his last win and down to 78th in the world, withdrew after only five holes.

What he hopes is nothing more than a trapped nerve left the former European number one with pins and needles in his left arm and, although he was one-under-par at the time, he thought it best to pull out.

"I've had this once before, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem," said the 29-year-old.

Westwood is not in the US Open - a result of his crash down the world rankings from fourth little more than a year ago - and is planning a two-week rest to try to get it sorted.

"I'm finding it difficult to grip the club with my little finger," he commented.

Moseley had a course record equalling 63 in the last round of the Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth two weeks ago and, after an early bogey, returned to that form with six birdies and then a spectacular eagle at the long 17th.

From nearly 240 yards, the Perth golfer struck a three wood that shaved the edge of the hole and finished eight inches away.