GOLF/Shell Houston Open: Darren Clarke, who missed the cut after carding two disappointing rounds of 76 and 73 at Sawgrass last weekend, made a much more promising start at the $4 million Shell Houston Open last night.

Clarke began brightly, opening at noon local time with a birdie on the dogleg-right par-five first hole. Seven pars and another birdie - at the 414-yard par-four seventh - later, Clarke was at the turn in a comfortable 34 shots, two-under-par.

A slip at the 10th, where the Irishman needed five attempts on the par-four hole, was soon rectified on the 13th, where four shots covered the par-five.

It was on the 521-yard 15th, however, where Clarke finally made his most decisive move on the leaderboard, jumping to tied seventh after carding an excellent eagle.

However, a final five shots at the par-four last, meant Clarke had to settle for a three-under total of 69 for the day.

One of Clarke's playing partners, Craig Perks, had a much more enjoyable last weekend in the Players Championship.

The sensational winner of the prestigious event at Sawgrass came to Houston looking for an encore, however, the New Zealander had to settle for a two-over 74 for the day after four bogeys and two birdies.

With Tiger Woods taking the week off, more of the spotlight will inevitably shine on Perks this weekend.

Last week, he chipped in for eagle at the 16th hole, sank a birdie putt at the famed 17th and holed another chip at the 18th for par and his first PGA Tour title.

Despite being ranked outside the top 200, the 35-year-old Perks earned the $1.08 million first prize and a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, including the next three Masters and each of this year's majors.

It was an American, however, who set the early pace. Jim Carter soared to the top of the table with a bogey-free round of 65.

Birdies at the sixth, ninth, 11th, 13th, and three in a row from the 15th and 17th gave the 40-year-old prime position on the Open leaderboard.

The defending champion Hal Sutton is hoping to use this week to revive his declining fortunes. The 43-year-old has missed the cut in six of nine starts this year after claiming his only 2001 title here.

An erratic first round of four bogeys and four birdies left the Californian at 72 after yesterday's play.

The Open can also can provide a tune-up for former Masters champion Vijay Singh, who also missed the cut at the Players Championship.

Singh began the day with nine level-par holes before storming the back nine and the leaderboard with six birdies - the only blemish being a bogey on the par-three 14th - to leave Fijian on 67.

A fan favourite at this event is Texas native Justin Leonard, a former British Open champion (1997) who finished fourth last year.

And the locals had plenty to cheer about after Leonard began the day with two birdies at the first and third.

Bogeys at the sixth and 14th were cancelled out by two further birdies to leave Leonard at 70.

The TPC at Woodlands has hosted the event every year since 1975.

This will be the final year for the par-72, 7,018-yard course before a move next season to the Redstone Golf Club, a Peter Jacobsen-Jim Hardy design that is scheduled to open later this year.