DARREN CLARKE defied the monsoon conditions on the opening day of the 1996 European Tour - which teed off with the first round of the Johnnie Walker Classic at Tanah Marah in Singapore yesterday to go four under par after 15 holes before play - was called off.
The world number one, Greg Norman, ignored the advice of friends and left his sick bed to play the course blind and record a one under 71. The British Open champion, John Daly, who failed to break 80 in any round of the Johnnie Walker World Championship in Jamaica last month, played well and shot a 67.
The tropical rains forced a two hour delay and resulted in 45 players (including Clarke) failing to finish their rounds because of poor light. Australian Bradley Hughes and Sweden's Olle Karlsson set the pace by taking Route 66, with world number three Ernie Els and Daly a shot adrift on 67.
But Clarke, who finished third in last week's Malaysian Open, confirmed his excellent early season form by reaching four under par after 15 holes, only denied an even better overnight position by the thunderstorm that disrupted play on the opening day of the new season.
The 27 year old Dungannon man unveiled a new set of MacGregor irons to match his ambitions for the new season. "The two hour break affected me a bit," he admitted. "I never swung as well when I went back out but I've got three holes left to catch up and I am playing well enough to do it."
Clarke, who started his round at the 10th, included a chip in from 50 feet at the first, his 10th, among his five birdies prior to the two hour delay but, on his return to the sodden course, the Irishman incurred a bogey when finding a greenside trap with a four iron and failing to get up and down. "If I can sneak at least one more shot back then I will be in a great position to challenge," he insisted.
Ronan Rafferty also showed his return to form with a 69 to lie just three behind pacesetters Hughes and Karlsson. Rafferty included four birdies and a bogey in his opening round, while Dubliner Paul McGinley recovered from his nightmare start to the year last week when he missed the cut in Malaysia to shot a 71 that matched Norman.
However, Raymond Burns - playing with new clubs, new putter and new caddie - needs some work to survive the cut after, shooting a first round 73.
Still, it, was the respective performances of Norman and Daly, which came as the biggest surprises. Norman was a doubtful starter because of a chest infection and revealed: "Friends were telling me to go back to Australia and not risk things for the next couple of months, but I knew my system was getting better and, as it turned out, I was fine."
"I think it's the first time I have played a course blind and all things considered I am happy with a 71. I am ahead of the count," said Norman. That was a reference to the same event two years ago when the 40 year old was close to pulling out after an opening round 75 left him nine behind the leader but went on to win.
British Open champion Daly has endured a horrid time of late, but was all smiles after shooting a 67 to lie alongside Els, winner of last week's South African Open. "I'm very happy. It is one of the best rounds I have had in a long time. I've been saying I need a good start and I feel really good about that."
