Clark takes first win in Europe
Brad Morgan
11 July 2005
South African Tim Clark fired a record-equaling four-round total of 19-under par 265 to capture the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond on Sunday, following a final round of four-under par 67. Previously Clark had finished third in 2002 and fifth in 2004.
The victory saw the diminutive man from Umkomaas add his name to a trophy that already carries the names of Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. Clark beat a field that included Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and Darren Clarke to lift the trophy, in so doing earning the biggest pay day of his career - £400 000 (R4 769 875.74).
It was Clark's third European Tour victory, but his first outside of South Africa. He won the South African Open in 2002 and again in 2005. Besides those wins, he also twice won on the Nationwide Tour, the feeder tour for the US PGA Tour.
'This is bigger'
Asked how he rated his victory at Loch Lomond, Clark, referring to his SA
Open wins, said: "It's always great to win your home Open, but this is bigger in terms of the quality of the field. I respect this tournament and all the great winners from the past."
Next up for Clark is the British Open at Saint Andrews. He reckons he is feeling more confident about his game than ever, and understandably so.
He has two wins to his credit this year - in the South African Open and the Scottish Open. He also recently finished third in the very testing US Open.
Clark is no longer that far behind Els and Goosen in the world rankings, either. He is up to seventeenth. Els is ranked third and Goosen fifth.
Outside of the United States, no other country comes close to equalling the high rankings positions of South Africa's top three.
A wild fight for the title
The final day featured a wild fight for the title, with the lead changing hands seven times and five players sharing in it, before Clark put space between
himself and his challengers by sinking a testing birdie putt on the final hole when he needed a two-putt for victory.
His four rounds were remarkably consistent: in the first round he carded a four-under 67, and followed that up with rounds of 66, 65 and 67.
Looking back on his effort, Clark, surprisingly, said he struggled with his game for most of the tournament, but after spending some time on the practice range on Saturday he drove the ball really well in the last round on Sunday.
Maarten Lafeber and Darren Clarke shared second on 267, with Ian Poulter alone in fourth on 268.
Ernie Els finished six shots behind Clark, in eleventh, on 13-under par 271. Two further back, on 273, was Trevor Immelman.
Richard Sterne finished on 277, Andrew McLardy on 278, Retief Goosen on 279, and Louis Oosthuizen on 287.
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