Clarke just one behind Singh after 65

A brilliant second round 65 containing eight birdies lifted Ireland's Darren Clarke to within a shot of leader Vijay Singh half-way through the second round of the Shell Houston Open at The Woodlands yesterday.

Joint 16th after his opening 69, Clarke gave his build-up to the Masters in a fortnight a timely boost by moving up the leaderboard.

While Colin Montgomerie's 71 left him borderline for qualifying for the final two rounds on one under, Clarke moved onto 10 under par aggregate of 134. Starting on the back nine he birdied the 11th, 12th and 15th to turn in 33.

Further birdies came on the first, where he got up and down from a greenside bunker, second and after bogeying the next he recovered the dropped shot on the fourth and finished with two more birdies.

Clarke is seeking his first victory in America since the World Match Play title in San Diego two years ago - and his first anywhere since the European Open at the K Club last July.

Singh, who opened with a 67, wasted no time in getting on the birdie trail again in the second round.

He two-putted the par five first for birdie and two more birdies at the fifth and ninth took him out in 33 and to eight under par. Birdies at the 10th and 11th, where he holed from six and eight feet respectively, had him level with Clarke after 11 holes. Singh parred the next four holes and then took the outright lead when he holed out a bunker shot at the par three 16th.

After 36 holes Clarke had yet to miss a fairway and had taken a mere 51 putts - 27 on the first day and 24 in his second round.

Clarke was two clear of third placed Ogilvy, who also shot 65, and five ahead of local favourite Fred Couples, who added a 71 to his opening 68 for 139, the same mark as Nick Price.

Said Fred Couples: "These greens are as good as we had last week at The Players (Championship). And the fairways are as good as Augusta National."

Montgomerie's closing birdie could prove vital in staying in the $3million tournament, but he was struggling off the tee, hitting only 50 per cent of fairways both days.

Former Walker Cup player Luke Donald shot five birdies in a round of 68 to make sure of his place in the field for the weekend.

Starting at the 10th Donald shot three birdies to be out in 33 and further birdies at the third and fifth were spoiled when he dropped at shot at the last.

LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES: 134 - D Clarke (NIrl) 69 65; 136 - G Ogilvy (Aus) 71 65, B Jobe 70 66, 137 - S Verplank 67 70, J Hass 67 70; 138 - G Norman (Aust) 70 68, 139 - N Price (Zim) 68 71, F Couples 68 71, E Toledo (Mex) 66 73, A Scott 72 67, L Donald (Eng) 71 68; 140 - P Stankowski 72 68, J Smith 70 70, R Allenby (Aust) 68 72, R Sabbatini 69 71, M Allen 71 69. 141 - W Austin 71 70; G Chalmers 69 72.