Solid start for Clarke

DARREN CLARKE, winner of the NEC world title in Ohio, made a solid start to the American Express world championship in Atlanta yesterday, finishing with a one under par 69, following a topsy-turvy final few holes.

He was going well at two under with six to play, but then bogeyed the next two.

However, he rolled in a 25-foot putt on 17 for birdie and then managed to par the last after getting up and down from the sand.