Golf – JP McManus pro-am update:While Tiger Woods remained tight-lipped over his private life, good friend Darren Clarke returned to the winner's circle after finishing top of the pile at the JP McManus Pro at Adare Manor in Limerick.
Clarke, who has not won on tour since the Dutch Open in 2008, will welcome any win, even it it's "only" a charity pro-am - albeit one with the 11 of the world's top 15 competing.
The 41-year-old added a second round 68 to his opening 73 for a winning three under 141 aggregate. Luke Donald (69) was second on two under with Clarke's stablemate, Ernie Els (70) and Irish Open champion Shane Lowry (71) joint third on one under.
They turned out to be the only players who managed to break par in what was were difficult, wet and often swirling conditions at the former Irish Open venue.
It means the honours move from one Irishman to another for Pádraig Harrington was the defending champion after he won the last staging in 2005. The three-time major winner improved with today's level par 72 but was still only four over.
Graeme McDowell woke from his recent slumber to return a three under 69 to get back to level par for the 36-hole event. The newly-crowned US Open champion admitted to several late nights since his heroics at Pebble Beach.
Yesterday the 30-year-old said he was now "back to business" and the next stop for him and many others in the Adare field is this week's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond where he won in 2008.
Damien McGrane (73) finished one over, two better than Rory McIlroy (75) and Gareth Maybin (73).
Earlier in the day Woods met questions about his private life with
silences and terse, short answers as he appeared in front of the media after his round.
The world number one shot a second round 69 to finish well down the 54-professional field on four over alongside Harrington.
The 14-time major winner cut a starkly different figure from the man who had publicly apologised for his extra-marital affairs at a press conference in February.
When asked why he would not be practising any links golf before next week’s 150th British Open at St Andrews, Woods replied: “Because I need to go home.”
When the reporter then asked if that was due to “personal stuff” Woods glared before abruptly answering: “To see my kids.”
The 34-year-old was also asked if he felt his misdemeanours had been worth it given his relatively poor form since returning to the game.
“I think you are reading too deep into this,” was the world number one's reply.
The 34-year-old made a quick exit by helicopter to Shannon airport where he boarded a private jet back to the States.
As for Clarke he will stay on on Limerick before heading to Loch Lomond where he keep slim hopes of still winning a place at the British Open.
He will need to finish as the leading player not already exempt in the top-five at Loch Lomond after failing to secure at place during Open qualifying at Sunningdale last month.
Final Scores - JP McManus Invitational at Adare Manor
141– D Clarke 73, 68
142– L Donald (Eng) 73, 69
143– E Els (SA) 73, 70 S Lowry 72, 71
144– G McDowell 75, 69 D Howell (Eng) 74, 70 P Hanson (Swe) 71, 73 I Poulter (Eng) 75, 69
145– H Slocum (USA) 76, 69 J Furyk (USA) 71, 74 D McGrane 73, 72 R Green (Aus) 75, 70
146– S Hansen (Den), 72, 74 M Kaymer (Ger) 74, 72 J Cook (USA) 71, 75 D Johnson (USA) 74, 72 P Casey (Eng) 76, 70 R Allenby (Aus) 73, 73 R Sabbatini (SA) 71, 75
147– C Villegas (Col) 73, 74 J Daly (USA) 76, 71 R McIlroy 72, 75 G Maybin 74, 73
148– T Woods (USA) 79, 69 P Harrington 76, 72 S Webster (Eng) 73, 75 G Fernandez-Castano (Sp) 75, 73 JM Olazabal (Sp) 76, 72 T Lehman (USA) 74, 74
149– S Marino (USA) 75, 74
150– J Edfors (Swe) 72, 78 M Campbell (NZ) 78, 72 A Noren (Swe) 73, 77 J Van de Velde (Fr) 74, 76 R Finch (Eng) 74, 76
151– T Bjorn (Den) 77, 74 J Rose (Eng) 80,71 N Watney (USA) 74, 77 P McGinley 78, 73
152– B Curtis (USA) 81, 71 M O'Meara (USA) 76, 76 M Manassero (It)
153– F Funk (USA) 79, 74 H Stenson (Swe) 72, 81
154– L Glover (USA) 73, 81 JB Holmes (USA) 77, 77 G Murphy 76, 78 P Lawrie 76, 78 D Higgins 76, 78 A Scott (Aus) 77, 77
156– R Rock (Eng) 78, 78
Retd– S Lyle (Scot)
NR– A Quiros (Sp), T Immelman (SA)
Teams
255 (33- under-par)– Lourdes Invalid Trust I: Ian Poulter with Bernard Hackett (11), Padraig Hackett (13), Ray Hackett (15).
258 (30-under-par)- St Joseph's Foundation: Heath Slocum with Evan Talty (8), Eric Murrihy (13), Michael Talty (14); Gerry McManus: Ernie Els with Gerry McManus (18), Mark McManus (18), Cormac McManus (15); Lourdes Invalid Trust II: John Cook with Gary Neville (13), Neal Whelan (13), Cian Foley (15).