LA QUINTA, Calif. – Who played the better Penguin? Was it Burgess Meredith in the ‘Batman’ TV show? How about Danny Devito on the big screen? For me, it’s Tim Clark. The South African was given the nickname “The Penguin” by Sergio Garcia when Clark was younger because of his size and, at the time, plumpness. But his game is definitely not for the birds.
On Friday at the Bob Hope Classic, Clark posted a beautiful 63. Listen to these numbers: Clark is tied for third in the Bob Hope field with 20 birdies through two rounds and he is tied for second in putting. Clark may be the best on the greens with a long putter. He is also tied for first in driving accuracy, hitting the fairway over 92 percent of the time.
Clark enters 2010 with confidence. He played well for Greg Norman’s International team at the Presidents Cup. He then kept his game sharp in November and December by competing in his native South Africa.
Clark has come close to winning. Remember last year at Colonial when he lost to Steve Stricker in a playoff? Clark is on that somewhat dubious list of players labeled best without a PGA Tour victory. That should change this year. Heck, it could happen this week in the rain soaked Coachella Valley. After all, penguins feel very comfortable in water.
