Clarke's misery continues

Darren Clarke gave himself even more ground to make up when the second round of the American Express world championship began at Mount Juliet in Co Kilkenny today.

Having double-bogeyed the final hole yesterday for a three over par 75 which left him next-to-last - and 10 adrift of leader Tiger Woods - the Tyrone native dropped to five over with bogeys at fourth and seventh.

Only little-known Japanese player Kenichi Kuboya, seven over after a double bogey six at the second, was behind Clarke in the 64-strong field.

The €5m event started with 65, but the other Japan representative Shigeki Maruyama pulled out with shoulder trouble after his opening 75.

There was good news for the American Ryder Cup camp when Mark Calcavecchia was able to tee off again.

Calcavecchia also double-bogeyed the last yesterday - for a 72 - after suffering a back twinge. But treatment appeared to have eased the problem as he resumed with a par.

Tom Lehman, the man on stand-by for the 10 automatic qualifiers in Curtis Strange’s team, double-bogeyed the first and went down to three over.