DARREN Clarke, the genial Ulsterman lying second in the European Order of Merit, was assured by his manager Andrew ''Chubby'' Chandler: ''Becoming a father will be the making of you as a golfer.''

The new dad set out to prove that is the case by shooting 69 in the first round of the Smurfit European Open at the K Club in County Kildare on a day when opening an umbrella could turn one into a paraglider.

As far as can be ascertained, Clarke's two-week-old son Tyrone is not suffering from wind. Just about everybody else is in this #1,250,000 tournament.

''I could have done without a gale when I was trying something new,'' complained Colin Montgomerie.

Swiss player Paolo Quirici was 10 over par after seven holes, and defending champion Per Ulrik Johansson, winner in the last two years, slumped to an 83 as a 40-mph guster sent shots to parts of the course professionals do not normally reach.

Clarke refused to be blown off the leaderboard. ''A bit of wind certainly makes it tough out there, but I did some work with my coach and I have improved since my last two events. Now I am missing it right instead of left, which is not so punishing.

''You can talk to a fade occasionally, but not to a snap-hook!''

By his own admission, his first two tee shots were terrible, yet he birdied the eleventh - he started at the tenth - thanks to a 40-foot putt. ''That was 20 feet shorter than the one I holed on the sixth. In all I had 27 putts, which gives the story of my round.''

Clarke is pursuing Lee Westwood for top spot in the Order of Merit. Yesterday, the latter had a 77, which was helped by an eagle three on the eighteenth, then he headed back to the practice ground. ''I hope to narrow the gap between us this week,'' said Clarke, who is also attempting to become the first Irishman to win this title.

On being told that Nick Faldo has announced he will play in the next two European events - ''because it is easier to make money there than in the States'' - Clarke kept his cool.

''Nick's Nick,'' he declared, with which none of us would disagree. ''He is still a world-class player, but I think he is in for a bit of a surprise. The standard in Europe is rising; Americans used to come over and win all the time. It used to be rich pickings, but that is not the case anymore.''

To underline his point, Payne Stewart, runner-up in the US Open, no doubt lured to Ireland by sponsors' lolly, was another on the 77 mark and, without improvement, might be free for the weekend. ''I found it tougher than any other round this year,'' he said.

The only player to improve on Clarke's score was 26-year-old Swede Mathias Gronberg, who came in with a 68. With one win on the Tour three years ago, he is not expected to be in contention for too long, but he putted like a dream yesterday with six birdies on his card.

And what of the partially re-modelled Monty? The big Scot carded a 73, which was by no means bad in the circumstances, but hardly had him telling jokes in the locker-room. At one point he was two-under and sharing the lead, but three bogeys in his last six holes edged him down.

After a session with his hired-again coach Bill Ferguson, Montgomerie was attempting to aim left for the first time in two years. ''My swing is still fragile, but I really didn't have any luck.'' Don't discount him just yet.

Paisley's Dean Robertson was one-shot more, despite holing his five-iron tee shot at the 170 yard 12th. That was his first ace as a professional, and only the second in his career.

The best of the Scots turned out to be veteran Sam Torrance. His 71 was his lowest-ever score on this course. ''Mind you,'' he was quick to point out, ''it is the first time I have ever played it sober.'' Torrance turned his back on the Demon 11 months ago, and since then his weight has dropped from 16 stones to 13 and a half while his golf has improved equally dramatically.

He will be 45 on Monday and, before the season is out, Torrance will make golfing history. This is his 595th professional tournament and the 600 barrier will be crossed this year. No-one else has played anwhere near as many.

England's Jim Payne hit an eight iron straight into the hole at the 168 yard eighth - his first ace on Tour. He and Robertson were both awarded a case of Pommery champagne. Just as well Sam did not hole out - what a waste that would have been. Leaders (GB and Ireland unless stated):

68 - M Gronberg (Sweden).

69 - D Clarke.

71 - R Wessels (S Africa), F Cea (Spain), C Hainline (USA), P Harrington, S Torrance, M Mackenzie.

72 - J Rivero (Spain), G Owen, A Kankkonen (Finland), P Lawrie, A Cabrera (Argentina), P Baker, P Haugsrud (Norway), S Luna (Spain), J Sandelin (Sweden), P Broadhurst, C Rocca (Italy), P McGinley, P Price.

73 - M Davis, E Darcy, I Woosnam, C Montgomerie, J Payne, T Levet (France), F Tarnaud (France), MA Jimenez (Spain), B Langer (Germany), D Smyth, S Ames (Trinidad), S Tinning (Denmark), B Davis.

74 - D Cooper, O Karlsson (Sweden), E Romero (Argentina), D Carter, M Mouland, I Garbutt, S Grappasonni (Italy), D Robertson, A Wall, P Eales, J Coceres (Argentina), S Ballesteros (Spain), D McGrane, M Tunnicliff, C O'Connor Jnr, R Claydon, G Nicklaus (USA).

Other scores included: 75 - R Coles, D Tapping, S Richardson, R McFarlane, J Haeggman (Sweden), M Lanner (Sweden), M James, B Lane, J-M Olazabal (Spain).76 - P Walton, G Brand Jnr, T Bjorn (Denmark).77 - R Boxall, P Stewart (USA), I Garrido (Spain), L Westwood, G Evans, R Russell. 78 - G Orr, A Oldcorn. 82 - A Hunter.