On-song Clarke leads Dunlop Phoenix

Darren Clarke fired a seven-under-par 64 to lead after the opening round of Dunlop Phoenix in Japan.

Clarke heads into Friday's second round with a two-stroke lead over Justin Rose and the Japanese duo of Kaname Yokoo and Tsukasa Watanabe, who all shot 66.

Spain's Sergio Garcia is a further stroke back along with four others at four-under, while Tiger Woods struggled to finish on level par.

Clarke, who is competing in his fifth Dunlop Phoenix, knocked in six birdies on the front nine before closing out with a bogey on the 16th and two more birdies on the 17th and 18th.

He said: "The changes they've made to this course make it a lot more tricky.

"But I putted as well as I have in years and got a couple of breaks that I made the most of."

Woods carded four birdies against four bogeys at the Dunlop Phoenix Country Club for a 71.

"To shoot even par is a mini miracle," said Woods.

"I didn't hit it well and didn't putt well but managed to salvage the round with a couple of birdies near the end."

Defending champion David Duval fired a 69.