Clarke takes solo lead heading to British Open final round

SANDWICH, England— A day that began with howling rain and wind ended in bright sunshine, a turn of meteorological fortune that helped sort out a bunched-up field at the British Open.

Darren Clarke was among those catching a break with the weather, shooting a 1-under 69 yesterday for a one-stroke lead heading to the final round, and put little Northern Ireland in position to claim its third major championship in a little over a year.

“If somebody had given me 69 before I was going out to play, I would have bitten their hand off for it,” Clarke said.

Then, the persnickety weather along the English seaside took a sudden turn for the better.

“We did get very fortunate with the draw,” Clarke conceded. “Sometimes to win any tournament the draw can make a big difference, but in the Open championship it makes a huge difference. We got very lucky.”

Clarke doesn’t have it locked up yet. Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler led an American charge up the board, looking to end their country’s longest drought without a major title in the modern Grand Slam era.

The Ulsterman was at 5-under 205, with Johnson just one shot behind after his second straight 68. Fowler posted a matching 68 and was at 208, tied with first-round leader Thomas Bjorn, still in position to erase the memory of his meltdown at Royal St. George’s in 2003.

Through lunchtime, heavy showers and winds gusting over 30 mph (nearly 50 mph) forced players to don bulky, oven-style mitts between shots, huddle under flapping umbrellas and try to find a way to get around the course without giving up too many shots to par Saturday. /AP