Clarke whistles straight into lead

THE IRISH influence at Whistling Straits, this remarkable golf course on the shores of Lake Michigan, was enormous ever before the 86th US PGA got under way yesterday.

By early afternoon, it looked as if they had taken over the place altogether with Darren Clarke shooting a spectacular course record seven under par, nine-birdie 65 to take the early lead. And to ensure he wasn't lonely up there at the head of affairs, Padraig Harrington birdied his last three holes to sign for a four under par 68. The big disappointment was Graeme McDowell's 77, a bitterly disappointing outcome for the young Ulsterman who had to call a two stroke penalty on himself at the 15th where his caddy unwittingly raked a bunker unaware that his player was in the same hazard albeit 40 yards away.

Clarke's 65 left him one ahead of playing partner Justin Leonard and pre-tournament favourite Ernie Els with Vijay Singh one of those ominously two off the pace.