Whatever it was that Philip Walton did to him in the 1995 Ryder Cup, Jay Haas has been without a tournament win since then. But the 44-year-old made a significant move towards ending that drought by taking the halfway lead in the $1.9 million MCI Classic here at Harbour Town yesterday.
Haas, who has had nine victories on the US Tour, shot a second successive 66 for a 10under-par total of 132 - remarkable scoring on a severely testing course. Indeed, conditions were even more difficult than in the opening round, as freshening Atlantic winds brushed the tee-lined fairways.
So, there was tremendous merit in Darren Clarke's finish of 3, 3, 3 - birdie, par, birdie - for 71 and a one-over par aggregate of 143. This was one stroke inside the cut of 144 on which Nick Faldo survived, while another European, Per-Ulrik Johansson had a second successive 71 for 142.
Haas recently switched to a cross-handed putting grip with splendid results, to the extent that he needed only 47 putts for the opening two rounds, 22 of them yesterday. "There are times when I feel capable of winning but there are also times when I wonder if I'll ever hit it good again," he said afterwards.
He ended the day one stroke clear of journeyman Frank Lickliter, one of Clarke's playing partners. Then came Glen Day a shot further back while the formidable figure of Davis Love, three-times a winner here, was on 135.
Meanwhile, Clarke's play of the last three holes provided further evidence of the new-found discipline which characterised his Masters performance last weekend. He survived, despite a mid-round crisis of three bogeys in four holes, which seemed to spell the end of his challenge.
"I was swinging too well to let that happen," he said afterwards. "Though I would need to improve my chipping and putting, I feel I'm capable of stringing a few 67s together over the weekend. That would bring me a useful cheque to add to my Augusta winnings ($89,600 dollars)."
Two birdies and two bogeys left Clarke stuck on one over par for the tournament after the difficult eighth. And there seemed to be more than a hint of frustration when the driver came out at the tight, 337-yard ninth, where the more prudent option is a long iron off the tee.
In the event, the ball clattered into trees on the right, costing him a bogey. And an early departure beckoned when he dropped a further stroke at the 11th. But the 29year-old responded with a birdie from four feet at the 16th, followed by a par at the next.
Then came a stunning finale to the round. Granted, the formidable, 478-yard 18th was playing directly downwind, but a 298-yard three-wood tee-shot from Clarke, followed by a nine-iron of 163 yards to five feet, represented majestic striking. "That's the worst I could have done," he concluded.
There seemed no end to Faldo's current struggle, even though he limited the damage to a 74. These days, the Englishman generally blames his putter for his poor scoring. On this occasion, however, he complained: "My course management is positively lousy."
Having started at the 10th, Haas was two under par for the round after 11 holes and concerned that he might lose touch with Love. Then came a successful 15-foot birdie putt at the third - his 12th - and he proceeded to chip into the hole for a birdie at the next before holing another chip at the long fifth, this time for eagle.
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