FORT WORTH, Texas — With $12.7 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour, Tim Clark has the dubious distinction of winning the most
money without winning an event. Now he’s got a great chance to let someone else carry that burden. Clark shot a 4-under 66 on Saturday in the third round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational to take a two-stroke lead into the final round. The 33-year-old South African has been near the top of the leaderboard all week, then finally moved into first place all by himself with a birdie on 11. After a string of pars, he birdied 18 to dip to 17-under 193 and stretch his lead. That kind of finish also might be the momentum-extender to help him snap his 0-for-183 skid. “It’s tough to win out here everyone knows it,” said Clark, 63rd on the tour’s career money list. “Hopefully, I do get that win sometime and it makes things easier. That’s all I can hope for.” There’s another problem. Lots of people are playing really well this week. Wind is the only defense this old course has against modern players and their technological advances, and there’s yet to be anything more than a gentle breeze. Making things even easier, many greens are new and soaked by a rainy spring, leaving them nice and soft — just the way players like it.
Jason Day has capitalized with three straight rounds of 65, and Steve Marino shot a tournament-best 62 on Saturday, moving them into a tie for second place at 15 under with Steve Stricker (69). Stricker faded after setting the 36-hole record (126). Vijay Singh got off track with consecutive bogeys early in his round. He finished at 69 and was alone at 13 under in his first appearance in the event since pulling out after criticizing the tournament for letting Annika Sorenstam in the field in ’03.