North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM CLARK: I am certainly pleased with the result
6/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
June 19, 2005
PINEHURST, N.C. - There's something to be said for playing three straight days of uneven, yet unyielding, golf. In the last three rounds of the U.S. Open, former NC State All-America Tim Clark made nine birdies and nine bogeys, playing Friday, Saturday and Sunday at a total of 1-under par. The only other players in red numbers for the final three days were Open champion Michael Campbell and former North Carolina golfer Davis Love III. All three were 1-under in the final three rounds. For Clark, that 1-under weekend greatly made up for his opening-round 76, and enabled him to finish in a tie for third place with Mark Hensby and Clark's close friend Sergio Garcia Sunday afternoon at Pinehurst No. 2, earning each of them $320,039. It matches the highest finish Clark has ever had in a major: he also tied for third in the 2003 PGA Championship. Clark shared his thoughts with his out-of-nowhere finish with gopack.com's Tim Peeler.
As you might imagine, I really enjoy coming to the majors. It certainly gets me geared up to play golf. I like playing on courses that have tougher set-ups, where you have to be accurate off the tee and you have to hit good shots all week long.
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2005 U.S. Open results
1. Michael Campbell, $1,170,000 2. Tiger Woods, $700,000 3. (T) Tim Clark, $320,039 (T) Sergio Garcia, $320,039 (T) Mark Hensby, $320,039
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Some people asked me what might have happened if I hadn't made that 5 on the par-3 ninth hole on Thursday, but I don't really play the what-if game. I am not that kind of guy. What happens, happens. I am just glad I finished strong.
I really did feel like I still might have a chance in the tournament. The last three days I played 1-under par, which is really good going. Obviously, I putted great all week.
Finishing in third place is really quite good, but I am still looking for that first win as a professional. I had some great moments as an amateur in 1997, when I won several tournaments, including the U.S. Amateur Public Link Championship. I think my game has progressed a great deal since then. But I have yet to win on the PGA Tour and once I do that, then I feel like I will be over my last hurdle.
After this week, I feel like I am extremely close to doing what I need to do to win my first tournament. It is all about confidence and how you feel about your game. I had that early on in the year, right after I won the South African Open and finished second at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. I have been able to make cuts the rest of the year, but I haven't been able to have any more top finishes. Maybe this third-place finish is what I need to get me going for the rest of the year.
I made a lot of birdies over the last couple of days and quite a few bogeys. On this course you are going to make bogeys. It's tough to make pars out of the rough. And sometimes, you are going to make some bogeys out of the middle of the fairways on these greens. That's just the way it is if you miss a shot. I made some bogeys by playing safe on the green, then leaving myself tough two-putts. It's just a demanding golf course everywhere. One of the big turnarounds for me on Sunday came on Nos. 15, 16 and 17. I had just three-putted the par-3 15th for bogey. On my second shot on No. 16, I was off the green and about 50 feet away from the hole. I putted it in and the crowd gave me a big cheer. Then on No. 17, I tried to go right at the pin and the wind was swirling a little bit. I thought it was at my back, but it changed directions on me a little bit and ended up short of the hole. I went into the bunker and got up on the green, but my first putt went right by the edge of the hole. So I made bogey there as well, or I could have maybe finished third all by myself.
But I don't have any complaints. The golf course played great all week long. No one can leave this week saying the course was unfair or complaining about the setup.
Now, I am leaving to go to the Barclays Classic at Westchester Country Club in Fairview, N.Y. Then I will take a week off before I go overseas for the Scottish Open and the British Open.
This was a terrific weekend to come back to North Carolina and see a lot of old friends from my days at NC State. I think it was a great result for me, even though it could have been better. I am certainly pleased with the result.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
