Clarke still in with a chance in LA

Darren Clarke, Brian Davis and Colin Montgomerie were all still in with a chance of winning the Nissan Open when they woke up in Los Angeles today.

But they also knew they might not get that chance.

The £2.5m (€3.6m) US Tour event should have finished yesterday, but because of rain only two of the four rounds had been completed and so the 75 players who survived the cut were told to be ready for an early-morning resumption today.

Clarke and Davis are in joint third place on eight under par, only one shot behind leaders Adam Scott and Chad Campbell.

Montgomerie is in a tie for fifth on seven under following a brilliant best-of-the-week 64 that was also the lowest round he has ever produced in America.

The problem for all three was that the forecast for today was for violent thunderstorms and if proved accurate the already-saturated Riviera Country Club was likely to be declared unplayable.

If so, the position after 36 holes would stand and Scott and Campbell would go into a sudden death play-off – weather permitting.

“I’m one behind. I want to play,” commented Clarke, who on Wednesday is playing compatriot Graeme McDowell in the first round of the Accenture world match play down the Californian coast in San Diego. Again, weather permitting.

Davis, who has not qualified for that tournament but does have the Chrysler Classic of Tucson starting on Thursday, said: “I hope we can play the third round, but I fear I may be one shot short.”

Both were eight under with two to play yesterday, but could not get the birdie they needed to be alongside Campbell and Scott. Clarke’s four-iron to the 18th flew too far – “I killed it,” he said – while Davis reckoned his four-iron to the ninth was a foot short of being perfect.

It pitched on the ridge 20 feet short of the flag, but instead of bouncing forward it stopped and then rolled back down the slope.

Montgomerie was back on the course where he lost a play-off to Steve Elkington for the 1995 US PGA championship, the closest he has ever come to a major itle.

Only 62nd after his opening 71, the 41-year-old Scot chipped in for an eagle and made five birdies, including the difficult 18th, to re-ignite his hopes of a first US Tour win in 15 years of trying.

After a 2004 in which his marriage broke up and he fell outside the world’s top 80, Montgomerie said: “Things are brightening up for me.”

If the Nissan Open is decided over 36 holes Clarke and Davis will each earn just under €218,000 and Montgomerie will collect just over £95,000 (€138,000).

“The prize money is nice, but world ranking points are more important to me,” stated the seven-time European No 1, who like Davis has not qualified for the Match Play this week and is not in the field for the Masters, US Open or Players’ Championship yet.

Tiger Woods was another hoping to get back on the course today. A closing double bogey for a 70 yesterday dropped Woods to joint 13th – alongside England’s Luke Donald – and he needs top four to regain the world No 1 spot from Vijay Singh.

Amazingly, Campbell has not hit a shot since Friday and was still in his hotel yesterday when 24-year-old Australian Scott sank a closing 20-foot putt to catch him.

The third round did begin in mid-afternoon, but none of the leaders had teed off when play was called off for the day a mere 30 minutes into the round because of more heavy rain.