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South African Tim Clark has broken through for his first victory on the PGA Tour and has chosen a significant event to establish that personal milestone. The 34 year old from Durban overcame a three shot third round deficit to catch and pass the overnight leader Lee Westwood and Australia’s Robert Allenby to win the US$1.71 million first prize at the Players Championship. Clark defeated Robert Allenby by one and Lucas Glover by two although those few words hardly do justice to a day of intrigue and drama. This was a day where the golf course fought back. With 85 players under par on day one and a cutline score of 1 under, the TPC Sawgrass finally had her revenge when only two players (Clark and Love) could break par.Golf latest information It was Clark’s 206th start on the PGA Tour and during that period he has been eight times runner up including his second place finish at the Bob Hope earlier this season. It was also Clark’s first victory anywhere since his playoff victory over Mathew Goggin at the 2008 Australian Open although perhaps someone should have told the NBC front man that at the prize-giving ceremony. He suggested in his interview with the winner that it was Clarks first win since the 2005 Scottish Open but just as he had all day Clark took it in his stride. Westwood and Allenby appeared to be absorbed in a battle of their own early, both dropping shots at the first and both taking the outright lead at various stages before Clark made his run in the middle of the round. Five birdies in six holes between the 7th and 12th swept him to the lead and although he missed a great opportunity from four feet at the 16th to all but seal the tournament, he avoided any serious mistakes at the dangerous 17th and 18th. He was forced to hole a 9 foot par save at the last but he was up to the task.European Tour As Clark walked from the 72nd green, Allenby was hitting a delightful five iron second to 18 feet at the 16th to set up an eagle which would have given him a share of the lead. Allenby’s putt did everything but drop and when Westwood could only manage par, Clark still led but by only one over Allenby and by two over Westwood. Allenby hit a beautiful 9 iron to 14 feet at the 17th but his putt again somehow refused to drop. Westwood on the other hand appeared to hit the wrong club, found the water and took double bogey.Cleveland Driver By now only Allenby could realistically spoil Clark’s party. His tee shot at the last was perfect but perhaps caught between clubs he left his second a little right and was unable to produce the miracle he needed to tie with the eventual winner. For Allenby however it was his second biggest cheque in golf after his win at the Nedbank Challenge (US$1.2 million) last season. He never lost the tournament but rather Clark won it with magnificent play through the middle of his round. Allenby’s performance was made even more impressive by the fact that his divorce to wife Sandy was officially announced this week.Casual Discussion It was Allenby’s second runner up finish of the year and his first PGA Tour win since 2001 must be close at hand. Lucas Glover recovered from a horror start with five birdies in his last eight holes to finish alone in third, one behind Allenby with another two shots back to a five way tie for Davis Love, Heath Slocum, Bo Van Pelt, Ben Crane and Lee Westwood whose disaster at the 17th cost him US$192,000.Golf Driver City Adam Scott was the next best of the Australians in 26th position, Greg Chalmers was 34th and James Nitties 39th. The PGA Tour now moves west to San Antonio for this week’s Texas Open, the first of three consecutive weeks in the Lone Star state.
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