Clarke’s Collapse Benefits Lonard

Darren Clarke needed only four words to sum up his Sunday collapse in the MCI Heritage.

“Anybody got a beer?” he said.

The dazed Irishman will not soon forget his startling run of bogeys and double bogeys in a closing 76 that handed Peter Lonard of Australia his first PGA Tour title.

“I can’t believe I’ve done what I’ve done,” Clarke said.

Clarke, who birdied four of the first five holes to take a four-stroke lead, was tied with Lonard after 17 holes at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

The drama ended quickly, though, with Clarke losing his ball after pulling his approach into the thatchy beach area next to the green en route to a double bogey. Fans shouted to Clarke, Lonard, their caddies and officials who searched for the wayward shot without success.

Clarke eventually trudged back to the fairway to finish off his double bogey while Lonard, safely on the green in two, chomped a granola bar waiting out his landmark win.

“Obviously, I didn’t win it the way I wanted to win it today,” Lonard said. “But at the end of the day, if you win, you win. That’s what I’m going to take out of it.”

Clarke, looking for his first tour win in two years, was stunned. He played the first 36 holes in a career-best 12-under-par 130.

Lonard’s final-round 75 gave him a seven-under 277 total, while Clarke’s 76 dropped him into a tie for second at five under with five-time Harbour Town winner Davis Love III (71), Jim Furyk (69) and Billy Andrade (68).

It was hard to keep things straight at Harbour Town Golf Links without a scorecard. Lonard was down by four shots, then led by one after the eighth hole. He fell behind Clarke by two shots after a bogey on the 12th hole. But three holes later, Lonard was ahead by a stroke and clung to the victory.

“Things happen out here that you don’t think are going to happen,” Clarke said. “I didn’t think I was going to shoot whatever I shot today.”

Lonard’s 75 was the highest final round by an MCI Heritage winner, surpassing Arnold Palmer’s 74 in 1969.

The victory, worth $936,000, gives Lonard a two-year tour exemption.

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Peter Hanson won the Spanish Open, defeating Swedish countryman Peter Gustafsson with a par on the first playoff hole at San Roque.

Gustafsson shot a six-under 66 to overtake Hanson, the third-round leader, and finish regulation at eight-under 280. Hanson closed with a 71.

Hanson missed the green on the playoff hole, the 18th, but chipped to about one foot. Gustafson also missed the green and two-putted.