Clarke leads Dunlop Phoenix, Woods seven off pace

BY iseekgolf.com | Japan Tour | 2002 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament | Round One | 22 Nov 2002

Tiger Woods, who is playing in his first tournament since the Tour Championship last month, carded a -1 (71) and is seven strokes off the pace set by Ireland’s Darren Clarke at the US$1.65 million Dunlop Phoenix.

Clarke fired a superb six birdies on the front nine to take a two shot lead over Justin Rose, Kaname Yokoo and Tsukasa Watanabe. Spain’s Sergio Garcia sits another shot back at -4 following an erratic round that saw him finish with an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys on the par 71 Dunlop Phoenix Country Club layout.

Defending champion David Duval, who has endured an indifferent season, fired a -2 (69) with six birdies and two bogeys to close the day in equal 18th.

Richard Backwell leads a small Australasian contingent, which also includes Anthony Gillgan and David Smail, at 1 and in equal 43rd. Recent Philip Morris winner, Brendan Jones, is another shot back at 2 and in a tie for 56th place.

Round One – Australasian Scores
T43 1 Richard Backwell (72)
T43 1 Anthony Gilligan (72)
T43 1 David Smail (72)
T56 2 Brendan Jones (73)