Clarke sets career best for 36 holes
Updated: April 16, 2005, 1:56 AM ET
Associated Press
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Never mind the trimmer, flashier look. Darren Clarkeinsists he's still the same old good-natured guy.
"I'm certainly a little bit older and allegedly a little bit wiser, but I haven't changed anything else," Clarke said.
That's hard to believe, especially as sharp as Clarke has been in the MCI Classic. On Friday, he shot his second straight 6-under 65 to take a six-stroke lead.
Clarke has consistently been among the world's top players, coming in ranked 17th. He made headlines with a fitness regimen that helped him lose weight some time back and has kept his celebrity for his often goofy outfits -- he wore shiny mustard yellow pants in the second round. With another good display this weekend, Clarke will again be recognized as a champion on the PGA Tour.
And that could lead to an embarrassing scene Sunday evening -- the MCI Heritage's plaid jacket slipped over whatever garish combo Clarke picks out.
"I've definitely got something that would clash maybe," Clarke said.
It's easy to grin when you've got such a sizable lead. At 12-under 130, he had the best 36-hole total of his career and finished a shot off the tournament 36-hole record set by Jack Nicklaus in 1975 and matched by Phil Mickelson three years ago.
The fans at Harbour Town are drawn to Clarke, a friendly sort who's one of the few recognizable names in the field with Masters champion Tiger Woods and the rest of the Big Four (Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Mickelson) taking the week off.
And the native of Northern Ireland, chomping a cigar and laughing with the crowd, showed how much he loved being at Harbour Town.
"I knew I liked the golf course and that's why I've kept coming back," he said. "It's easier to play on a golf course you're comfortable on than one that you're not. I'm enjoying myself and playing pretty solid golf."
Clarke moved forward as swirling, unpredictable wind sent many scores soaring.
Australian Peter Lonard had flirted with 59 late in his opening round before finishing with a career-best 62 to lead by two shots. He ballooned to a 74 on Friday, leaving him tied for second with Patrick Sheehan.
Thomas Levet, who put up a 64 in the first round, also slid back with a 74 that left him eight shots behind. Sheehan followed his opening 66 with a 70.
In all, Harbour Town played more than a stroke harder than it did Thursday -- and this with wall-to-wall sunshine.
"A couple of people on the way in said it's a much nicer day," Sheehan said. "I think it's a prettier day but it's not an easier day to play golf."
The dry, sunny conditions -- who thought that might be a problem after nine of the previous 15 tournaments faced some sort of weather delay -- have firmed up Harbour Town's small greens, making it near impossible to get it close.
"I was sort of thinking if I could shoot par or better, it was a pretty good score," Lonard said.
He was on his way to doing that, reaching 10-under with six holes to go. Then Lonard made bogeys on four of the next five holes to fall back.
"That didn't do me any favors," he said.
Levet blamed no one but himself. He took 32 putts, eight more than his first round.
"I putted like a monkey, but this time with boxing gloves on," Levet said.
Clarke, who began his round on the back nine, moved in front with a stretch of five birdies in six holes. He had a 20-foot birdie putt on the 15th and a 25-footer for another on the 16th. Clarke's irons took over after that. He had birdie putts of three feet or less on the 18th, first and second holes.
"When things are going good on this course, it can look easy," said Davis Love III, a five-time champion at Harbour Town.
Clarke said he grew more aggressive as the birdies kept coming.
"It's easier for me when I feel as if I'm swinging good to start going after flags, and I wanted to," he said.
Love was nine strokes back after a 70.
Divots
Tom Kite was disqualified for the first time in his 34-year PGA Tour career after signing an incorrect scorecard. The 55-year-old Kite signed for a par-4 on the eighth hole instead of his bogey-5 during a round of 76, PGA Tour spokesman Phil Stambaugh said. Kite's 36-hole total of 6-over 148 was one shot off the cut. ... Jay Haas shot his second straight 72 to make his 22nd cut in the event, one behindHale Irwin's tournament record.
Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press
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