Clarke well placed

Irishman Darren Clarke was on form with his driver as he fired a six-under-par 65 to lie in third place after day one of the MCI Heritage in South Carolina.

Australian Peter Lonard is on top of the leaderboard after a 62, while Frenchman Thomas Levet is two shots back in second.

Ryder Cup star Clarke shot 31 on the front nine at Harbour Town Golf Links thanks to birdies at both par fives, two-putting from 33 feet at the 502-yard second and holing from 11 feet at the 530-yard fifth.

Clarke certainly had the reading of the greens as he sank a 20-foot effort at the par-four third for another birdie before picking up further shots after chipping in at the 195-yard seventh and then hitting his approach to the short par-four ninth to four feet.

Two birdie threes at the 12th and 13th took Clarke to seven under but he was then in trouble at the 192-yard 14th where he bogeyed.

He immediately clawed back that dropped shot at the par-five next but surrendered the advantage with a bogey five at the 16th, though he held his game together to finish six under.

“I drove it very well and I don’t think I missed a fairway,” Clarke said. “If you do that around Harbour Town, you’re going to give yourself some chances.”

Patrick Sheehan shot a 66 for fourth place, while Marco Dawson, Cameron Beckman, Jimmy Walker, Nick O’Hern and David Frost each shot 68 and are tied for fifth.

Five-time champion Davis Love III shot 69 and defending champion Stewart Cink carded a level-par 71.

Fred Funk, who captured the Players Championship title two weeks ago, was two under through four holes but finished with a 72 and is tied for 47th.

Masters champion Tiger Woods and the rest of the so-called “Big Four” - Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els – are not entered.