DESPITE A DOUBLE-BOGEY, Darren Clarke shot 64 to grab the first-round lead at the PGA Tour Champions’ Stifel Charity Classic.
The 2011 Open champion, who has six previous wins on the senior tour, fired nine birdies in the first of three play-off events.
A three-putt at the 13th was his sole blip as he finished on seven-under, one shot ahead of Australian Mark Hensby at Norwood Hills Country Club in St Louis.
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At one stage on the back nine, Pádraig Harrington, who won this event in 2022, was Clarke’s closest chaser.
He holed out for an opening eagle, but slipped up with a double-bogey at 14 to end his day tied for 18th on two-under.
Harrington entered the play-offs ranked fourth in the Charles Schwab Cup, which is led by Stewart Cink. Clarke is projected to jump from 12th to fifth based on current standings.
On the Ladies European Tour, Sara Byrne lay just outside the top 10 after a third round of 75 at the Hero Women’s Indian Open.
With only a handful of golfers under par at DLF Golf and Country Club, the Corkonian’s two-over total is seven shots behind the pace set by home favourite Vani Kapoor.
On the LPGA Tour, Lauren Walsh and Leona Maguire traded places, with a 71 lifting Walsh to three-under and a 73 dropping Maguire to two-under at the BMW Ladies Championship.
South Korea’s Haeran Ryu will hope to complete the victory on home soil. The world number three leads by four shots on 17-under.
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Clarke collects nine birdies to lead PGA Tour Champions play-off event
DESPITE A DOUBLE-BOGEY, Darren Clarke shot 64 to grab the first-round lead at the PGA Tour Champions’ Stifel Charity Classic.
The 2011 Open champion, who has six previous wins on the senior tour, fired nine birdies in the first of three play-off events.
A three-putt at the 13th was his sole blip as he finished on seven-under, one shot ahead of Australian Mark Hensby at Norwood Hills Country Club in St Louis.
At one stage on the back nine, Pádraig Harrington, who won this event in 2022, was Clarke’s closest chaser.
He holed out for an opening eagle, but slipped up with a double-bogey at 14 to end his day tied for 18th on two-under.
Harrington entered the play-offs ranked fourth in the Charles Schwab Cup, which is led by Stewart Cink. Clarke is projected to jump from 12th to fifth based on current standings.
On the Ladies European Tour, Sara Byrne lay just outside the top 10 after a third round of 75 at the Hero Women’s Indian Open.
With only a handful of golfers under par at DLF Golf and Country Club, the Corkonian’s two-over total is seven shots behind the pace set by home favourite Vani Kapoor.
Anna Foster’s 78 left her on 14-under.
On the LPGA Tour, Lauren Walsh and Leona Maguire traded places, with a 71 lifting Walsh to three-under and a 73 dropping Maguire to two-under at the BMW Ladies Championship.
South Korea’s Haeran Ryu will hope to complete the victory on home soil. The world number three leads by four shots on 17-under.
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Anna Foster Darren Clarke Golf Lauren Walsh leona maguire ocotber Padraig Harrington PGA Tour Champions Sara Byrne