Clark done whining at Firestone, more interested in winning
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
AKRON, Ohio -- Tim Clark admits he used to whine and wonder why he didn't just go ahead roll the dice in Reno this week rather than drive himself into the ground at Firestone Country Club.
After all, he only broke par twice in his first 12 rounds on the decidedly long and lush South Course. Clark's best finish in those four World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitationals was a pedestrian tie for 48th, too.
The young South African underwent something of an attitude adjustment two years ago, though, when he tied for sixth. His friends wouldn't let him mope around in Akron anymore.
"When I had that good result, everyone laughed at me and said stop complaining now," Clark recalled.
Imagine what they'll say if he goes on and makes the Bridgestone Invitational the first win of his PGA TOUR career come Sunday.
Clark starts the third round one stroke back in this $8.5 million event that has brought together 49 of the top 50 in the world. He fired a 68 -- what a change, his second consecutive sub-par score -- and will play with Padraig Harrington in the final group on Saturday.
"I think I always used to try and do too much, and I think the last few years, I've realized you just have to get it in play, get it in the fairway and from there, you have a chance," Clark said.
"Because it is a bit of a longer course, I used to just try to do a little too much off the tee. This week I've tried not to get too much out of it, make sure I get it in play, get it in the fairway, and from there, I've been able to score."
Clark's earlier frustration with Firestone was understandable. He isn't one of the bigger hitters on the PGA TOUR -- Clark averages 278 yards to rank 174th -- and the South Course measures a prodigious 7,400.
So Clark, who ranks 73rd of 80 players this week in driving distance, had to learn to play to his strengths. He's certainly not going to overpower Firestone, but he can bring it to its knees with precise drives, deadly irons and spot-on putts.
In the first two rounds, Clark has hit 18 of 28 fairways and all but nine greens in regulation. Perhaps even more importantly, Clark is tied for second in approach shot distance to the pin and tied for first in the distance of the putts he's made.
"It's probably boring to watch, but I think it's just something you have to do," Clark said. "Obviously not being one of the longer hitters, if I do go in the rough, it's tough for me to recover. I'm not able to get it up on the green like a lot of the other guys.
"That's just the way I have to play if I want to get myself in contention."
And that's exactly what Clark has done.
He started on No. 10 Friday and turned 3 under after birdie putts of 12 inches, 12 feet and 15 feet. Clark's lone bogey came when he drove into the left rough at the third hole, but he managed two clutch par saves on Nos. 8 and 9 to maintain his momentum.
The firm, fast fairways are actually working in the accurate Clark's favor this week. Most of his tee shots are hitting into a downslope so he is getting some roll to neutralize the big-hitters' advantage.
With temperatures expected to climb into the 90s over the weekend and the winds destined to pick up, particularly on Sunday, Firestone will only get more difficult over the next two rounds.
"I think now with the course firming up, it's going to be tough," Clark said. "... If there is a low score, you won't see it from the leaders. I think it'll be from someone who goes off in the morning early on, and the greens are somewhat soft and running great.
"They'll be somewhat low, but it's going to be tough for any of the guys teeing off in the afternoon tomorrow to shoot anything more than 4 under."
Clark, who started the season with top-25s in his first five events, is looking for a big finish, too. The Bridgestone Invitational could be the first of six events in a row for the man who ranks 27th in the FedExCup.
Clark heads for the PGA Championship next week, and the N.C. State product says its "likely" he will play the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., the following week. The four PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup are next on the horizon.
"So it's a lot of golf, and I guess it's just about pacing yourself," said Clark, who posted his seventh runner-up finish when he lost in a playoff at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial earlier this year.
Clark would like nothing better than to make the Presidents Cup, too. He played for the International Team in 2003 and '05 and ranks No. 8 in the standings for the eighth renewal that will be played Oct. 5-11 at Harding Park in San Francisco.
The 10 automatic qualifiers are finalized after next week's PGA Championship. International Team Captain Greg Norman will announce his two Captain's Picks on Sept. 8 after the conclusion of the second Playoff event, the BMW Championship.
"I knew to make it safe, I needed to play well this week and next week," Clark said. "I don't want to have to rely on a pick. There's always a chance that I can fall out. ... So it's obviously an important stretch, especially right now with that coming up. That's obviously been a goal all year, to be in the Presidents Cup."
And he could lock up that goal -- among others -- on Sunday at Firestone.
©1995–2009 PGA TOUR, Inc. | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved. PGA TOUR,
Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour, and the swinging golfer logo are registered trademarks.
PGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network