Clarke shares lead in early stages at Atlanta

IRELAND’S Darren Clarke overcame challenging conditions to share the clubhouse lead midway through yesterday’s opening round of the £3.2million Tour Championship.

Clarke was joined by Americans Jay Haas and Jerry Kelly in a three-way tie in the early stages.

Haas and Clarke coped with a testing breeze, carding three-under-par 67s on a crisp afternoon at East Lake Golf Club. They are part of an elite 30-man field competing in the season-ending event in Atlanta.

Clarke had three birdies in his first seven holes but a bogey on the fourth saw him reach the turn in two under.

Further birdies followed at the 12th and 14th before a bogey on the 16th prevented Clarke from claiming the outright lead.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington was two shots back after a 69, Sergio Garcia carded a one over 71 while Tiger Woods was also one over in the latter stages of his round. Vijay Singh, chasing a 10th win of the season, was one under with two to play.

Haas, who turns 51 early next year, made his move with an eagle at the par-5 15th, where he hit a 5-wood to the fringe and sank a 16-foot putt.

“I kept the ball in play most of the day, which you had to do out there, the rough being wet (after morning rain),” he said.

“But the greens are holding so well, I won’t say it’s easy, it’s just not showing its teeth like it could. You could run in some putts today. Up-hillers, you could give a pretty good whack, and downhill you didn’t have to guard against running it so far by.”

Haas said he would focus primarily on the PGA Tour next year, even though he will be eligible for the easier pickings of the Champions Tour.

Meanwhile Scotsman Euan Little powered to the top of the leaderboard after the second round of the European Tour qualifying school stage two in Spain.

The 28-year-old, a two-time winner on the European Challenge Tour, carded an eight-under-par 63 at Emporda for a 13-under aggregate of 129 and leads by a stroke from Frenchman Sebastien Delagrange and overnight pacesetter Paul Marantz of Australia.

Hull’s Richard Finch moved up into a share of the lead at the halfway point at the El Bosque Country Club near Valencia. The former English Amateur champion fired a 68 for a nine-under total of 135 to share top spot with ex-Austrian Amateur champion Niki Zitny.

Norway’s Oyvind Rojahn hoisted himself to the top of the leaderboard at the nearby Golf Oliva Nova course.

The 31-year-old carded a second consecutive 64 for a three-shot lead over former Amateur champion Iain Pyman who carded a 68.