Clarke holds off the pack
The Irishman shot a three-under 69 to go nine-under for the tournament and keep his nose in front of a cluster of Europe's top golfers all snapping at his heels. Ryder Cup team-mates Niclas Fasth, Ian Woosnam, Paul McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie are all within striking distance.
Fasth's second round five-under 67 put him within one shot of Clarke, Woosnam is only two adrift and McGinley, Montgomerie, Olazabal and Nick Faldo are only four back.
World number two Ernie Els carded his second straight three-under 69 and is three back. But a smiling Clarke delivered a warning to his rivals.
"There is a win coming, I feel it. If not this week, then very soon," he said. And with the way he is striking the ball here this week a win looks to be sooner rather than later.
On the par-five 18th, Clarke unleased the biggest drive of the day 342 yards leaving only a punched six-iron to the green. In fact his drive was so long he nearly went into the stream that meanders across the fairway. "I was just two yards short," said Clarke.
Woosnam, playing poorly but scoring well, knows Wentworth's West Course inside out and it showed.
"I'm very happy with that score. I missed a lot of greens and had a lot of good up and downs," said the Welshman.
McGinley is another fan of the famed Burma coursed.
"My long game is really good at the moment, but the putting's not great. But I love Wentworth. You have to shape your shots, it is not like the usual slam-bang golf we play on the tour," said the Irishman.
Montgomerie smashed his way to a two-under 70 to put himself only three behind Fasth.
The burly Scot broke his five wood on the opening hole when he hooked his drive two feet behind a tree. With nearly 200 yards to the green, Montgomerie, aware of what was to follow, decided to go for it.
"I knew the club would break, I was so close to the tree. I was more worried about the public because the head could go anywhere," said Montgomerie.
The ball came up just short of the green but Montgomerie got it up and down for his par.
"It was a good four," he commented. As he had not broken his club in anger but in an accident he had it sent off for repair, but in the end decided to use a spare five-wood he had brought to the course when he was told that although the original club was fixed the glue was not dry.
Despite his two-under 70 to go five-under and firmly in contention, Montgomerie was not happy.
"I'm not in a good position," he said, still annoyed at going out of bounds on the par-five 17th.
Els, whose house backs onto the course, was more than happy with his second straight 69 and warned that a really good round was in the offing. "It is almost there," he beamed. "I'm not far away."
Two three putts took some of the gloss off Els' second round but at six-under he is well placed to lift his first PGA championship title.
"I played better today than yesterday but did not score better. Those two three putts on the back nine cost me a really good score," said the world number two.
For little-known professional Robert Rock it has been a fairytale week. More used to playing regional events rather than full-blown tour championships, the 26-year-old found himself tied in third place.
"I was watching the leaderboard quite a lot," said Rock, delighted to see his name alongside Clarke, Els, Olazabal and Woosnam.
Rock, 200/1 at the start of the week, is not a complete unknown, however.
Two weeks ago he also played in the Benson and Hedges International Open and took home £11,770 for 22nd place.
"I didn't have any expectations at the start of the year, but having played quite well at The Belfry I thought that top 10 here sounds lovely," he added. "Maybe I can change that."
Also keeping himself in the hunt was Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee who remains at five-under.
"I was having trouble with the driver. I kept hitting it right," said the former Thai soldier before heading off to the practice range.
"But I am happy with the position I'm in," he added.
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