South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Clarke (62), Karlsson (66) tied at the top
BOCA RATON — Riding eight birdiesandaneagle to a 10-underpar62, DarrenClarkemanaged to soar to the top of the PGA Tour Champions’ TimberTech Championship leaderboardonSaturday, tyingRobert Karlsson for the lead after the second round.
Clarke, 52, made the eagle on the 18th hole for his final shot of the day at the Old Course at Broken Sound for a two-day total of 13-under 131.
Clarke, who won The British Open in 2011 and comes from Northern Ireland, had to take a one-shot penalty on his second hole, so his score could’ve been one stroke better.
“The last few weeks with the weather conditions, we’ve been ball in hand, marking it and placing it,” Clarke said. “Get out there and they told us on the first tee, our starter, no placing today. First hole, fine. Second hole, down the middle of the fairway, marked it, picked it up. Oops. One-shot penalty, straightaway.
“I put myself in the position a few times since we got back out playing and I haven’t been able to have a decent Sunday, as yet,” Clarke said. “So I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Karlsson, ofSweden, continued his success from Friday, racking up six birdies to turn in a 6-under
66 for the second round. Karlsson, 51, was among a group tied for second with Duffy Waldorf, Scott Parel and Boca Raton’sBernhardLangerafter the first round.
Having finished better than
10th only one time this season, Karlsson has the opportunity to win his first tournament on the PGATour Champions.
“When you play on the Champions Tour, it’s just very, very low scoring all the time and very bunched up,” Karlsson said. “I’m
trying not to get too caught up in it, play my own game and that’s going to be the plan tomorrow as well... I’m just going to try to treat it as a normal day and go out and try to shoot as lowas I can.”
Finishing the first round Friday tied for the lead with John Daly, JimFurykslippedtoNo. 3position.
Behind Clarke and Karlsson by one stroke, Furyk, 50, went 4-under for the second round, recording five birdies and one bogey.
Furyk — the 2003 U.S. open winner — has finished on top of the leaderboard twice in rookie season, being victorious at The Ally Challenge and the PURE Insurance Championship.
Finishing 1- over 73 in the second round, Daly fell to theNo. 20 position, tied with four other players 6 strokes off the lead.
Langer remains in the hunt for his third championship at the Old Course at Broken Sound as he posted a 4-under 38 for a 133 total, just two strokes behind the leaders.