Darren Clarke leads European challenge

Darren Clarke's mouth is watering at the possibility of another Sunday duel with Tiger Woods - this time not for a million dollars, but for a major title.

The Ulsterman, who beat Woods to become world match play champion in San Diego in February, went into the second round of the United States PGA championship in Louisville just two strokes behind him.

The fear is that Woods, joint leader with fellow American Scott Dunlap after his opening six-under-par 66, could yet turn the final major of the season into a cakewalk like the US Open and Open.

But Clarke's six-birdie 68 boosted his confidence that the Jack Nicklaus-designed Valhalla course can be the setting for his first major success rather than Woods's record-equalling third of the season.

Clarke on the 1st. Allsport.

At the first mention of the 24-year-old and the chance of playing together in the final group on the final day Clarke leapt in before the sentence was completed and said: "I'd love it.

"This is another tournament, completely different, and there's a long way to go. But to compete against the world number one would be fantastic.

"We're good friends and get on really well. We joke and mess around a bit and I enjoy being in his company." Never more than when the eyes of the golfing world are on them.

Clarke has disappointed since his fabulous four and three victory over 36 holes in California. Woods, of course, has not.

Davis Love, a much more dangerous threat on paper, is alongside Clarke on four under, while Las Vegas-based Englishman Ed Fryatt is only one stroke further back.

Making his debut in the championship and called into the event only on Monday as replacement for injured former winner Steve Elkington, 29-year-old Fryatt did not drop a stroke in his 69.

"Nobody is expecting anything of me except me," said the son of former soccer professional Jim Fryatt, who scored the fastest goal in Football League history when playing for Blackburn Rovers.

They were the only two of the 22-strong European contingent to break 70 on an opening day when, purely because of slow play, 18 players did not finish.

Andrew Coltart was among them and, having reached the turn in two under, he had fallen back to two over when play was suspended.

Lee Westwood will start his second round at level par, Ian Woosnam one over, Colin Montgomerie and Paul McGinley two over, Paul Lawrie and Padraig Harrington three over, Gary Orr and Phil Price five, Nick Faldo seven and Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance 10 after running up a quintuple bogey nine on the 17th.

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