Clarke puts Tiger in the shade

Darren Clarke must beware the wounded Tiger when he sets out to protect his two-shot lead over nearest pursuer Justin Rose after the first round of the Japan Tour Dunlop Phoenix tournament at Miyazaki.

Northern Irishman Clarke hit a seven-under-par 64, while world number one Tiger Woods struggled and needed two late birdies to card a level par 71.

But Woods insists this is an event he still has a chance to win.

“To shoot even-par is a mini-miracle,” he said.

“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.”

“There were a lot of guys who didn’t make par and I still have a chance to win this.”

Clarke fired eight birdies to take a two-shot advantage over Rose and local duo Kaname Yokoo and Tsukasa Watanabe.

He stormed to the turn in 30 with six birdies and, after his only bogey of the day on the 16th, closed with two more birdies.

“The changes they’ve made to this course make it a lot more tricky,” said Clarke.

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

Spain’s Sergio Garcia was a shot further back after a 67, while defending champion David Duval ran up two bogeys and a double bogey but still managed a two-under 69 to lie five off the pace.

After hitting four birdies, two bogeys and an eagle, Garcia said he was pleased to have a lead over Woods.

“It’s always better when you’re ahead of him – and the further the better,” he said.