Saturday is traditionally referred to as ‘Moving Day’ in golfing circles and European Tour Member Darren Clarke took the cue perfectly to move to the top of the leader board after the third round of the World Golf Championships – NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Ohio.
The 35 year old Irishman, who started the day two shots off the pace, moved smoothly into pole position with a battling 66 for a nine under par total of 201, one shot clear of American Jonathan Kaye with overnight leader Chris Riley third a further shot behind.
Tied for fourth on 204, three shots adrift of the Irishman, were the formidable duo of Davis Love III and World Number One Tiger Woods but like their countrymen, they were merely part of the chorus line as Clarke took centre stage in the limelight,
Of course, the European Ryder Cup player knows what it takes to win a World Golf Championships event, having beaten Woods 4 and 3 in the final of the WGC – Accenture Match Play at La Costa Resort & Spa in 2000.
And indeed, should Clarke go on and triumph on what is set to be an enthralling final day’s play around the immaculate Akron course, he would become the only player in history, aside from Woods, to have two WGC titles to his name.
But Clarke remained philosophical about the challenge that lay ahead of him. “I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of fun this week on the golf course and I plan to do the same thing tomorrow, just keep on doing what I’m doing.
“I’ve put a lot of work in to get myself in a position like this so I think I’m on the right road. My scores are starting to show that so it is just a gradual case of trying to keep improving.
“I’ve worked pretty hard this past three or four weeks especially with my short game, because I had almost gotten too technical with my main swing with Butch (Harmon) and had neglected my short game so I had to work on that very hard.
“I’ve been putting really well and this week I seem to have been getting the rewards. If you are making these ten to 15 footers for birdie, or even for par, then it makes a huge difference to your score.”
Clarke’s journey to the top of the leaderboard began at the second with a birdie four and, although he gave the shot back at the next, back-to-back birdies at the fifth and sixth saw him to the turn in 33.
An adventurous trip along the 410 yard tenth saw the Irishman eventually hole from 25 feet for a bogey five to see him drop momentarily out of a share of the lead but from there on in he was flawless, covering what is considered the hardest eight holes on the course in three under par.
First birdie came at the 11th where he holed from ten feet while another came at the 13th from 15 feet after his seven iron approach had found the centre of the green. But the shot of the day came at the 17th where a thunderous drive of 342 yards left him a lob wedge to the green, with which he deposited the ball to a mere 12 inches from the pin.
Nearest challenger to the European Tour Member is 32 year old American Jonathan Kaye, who won his first US PGA Tour title in June in the Buick Classic, and who carded an excellent 65 for an eight under par total of 202, helped immeasurably by a blistering start which saw him birdie the first four holes.
Third placed Riley, who last year was not even in the field but won the adjacent Reno-Tahoe Open on the US PGA Tour to guarantee his place this year, again showed his fondness for the third week in August with a level par 70 for a seven under par total of 203.
While Clarke led the European Tour challenge, there was no lack of back up from his fellow Tour Members on an excellent day for the visitors. Leading the supporting cast was Retief Goosen, the winner of the Volvo Order of Merit in 2001 and 2002, who carded a 69 for 205 and a share of sixth place.
It could have been even better for the 34 year old South African but he found a bunker on the tough, par five 16th to take bogey six and misjudged his approach shot to the last to take bogey five.
“It wasn’t the best way to finish but I’m still in there and although it will be difficult as there are a lot of good players up near the lead, if I can get off to a good start, I am still in there with a chance,” he said.”
One shot adrift of Goosen on four under par 206 and in a share of tenth place was Fijian Vijay Singh while The European Tour interest was maintained by four players in a share of 15th place on two under par 208 – Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Colin Montgomerie and Ian Poulter.
Best round of the four came from Poulter with a 67 but it was a measure of how well the spike-haired Englishman played that he was annoyed with himself it was not even better, shedding shots at both the 17th and 18th holes.
Els carded 71 while Immelman and Montgomerie matched the par of 70, the Scot battling back well with birdies at the tenth and 11th after dropping shots at the seventh, eighth and ninth holes.
“Seven, eight and nine were a bit wobbly but there was nothing I could do because it is very difficult out there,” he said. “But I was pleased to battle back like that and I’ll be trying my best to get it going tomorrow.”
