February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Clarke led after the first round, having shot 67 at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa, in an elite 12-man field. He fired 70 on Friday, then dropped down the leaderboard with 76 on Saturday.
Seemingly playing for minor spoils on Sunday, he rallied with birdies at 16 and 17 to stand even with Furyk, Adam Scott and Retief Goosen after 72 holes at 6-under-par 282. Clarke holed out from 110 feet on 17 to earn his birdie.
When Furyk chipped in from 15 feet on the second playoff hole, he was crowned the champion.
EUROPEAN TOUR
The 2006 European Tour is off and running in China, with Damien McGrane in the midst of the scramble. McGrane tied for seventh place in the UBS Hong Kong Open in Fanling, just two strokes off the champion, Colin Montgomerie. McGrane shone brightest in the third round, when he shot 63, thanks to eight birdies, offset by just one bogey.
The sailing was less smooth during Sunday’s closing round, when he produced five bogeys against just four bogeys, leading to a score of 71. He finished at 273 (68-71-63-71), with Montgomerie at 271, followed by a quintet at 272.
Gary Murphy tied for 30th place at 280 (68-73-67-72), with Peter Lawrie sharing the 56th spot at 286 (72-69-71-74). The cut was set at 141, which proved too low for David Higgins, 144 (69-75), and Michael Hoey, 145 (72-73).