BOCA RATON — Something happened to Darren Clarke on Wednesday that rarely occurs: The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder was made to look small on a golf course.
That’s what happens when you play golf with perhaps the best offensive tackle in NFL history, Anthony Munoz, who at 6-6, 280-plus pounds seems like he can block out the South Florida sun. Munoz was paired with Clarke in a pro-am Wednesday at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational at Broken Sound Club.
“There’s a few of them, the club looks like a thimble in their hands,” Clarke said, “they’re so big and athletic and so strong.”
It will be no different for Clarke when he plays the first two rounds with Hall of Fame defensive end DeMarcus Ware (6-4, 260) in the unique best-ball format. When asked what their strategy will be for the first two rounds, Clarke smiled.
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“I will have a little fun with DeMarcus,” Clarke said. “Whatever DeMarcus says, he’s much bigger and stronger. Whatever he says … ‘Yes sir, yes, sir.’ ”
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Clarke is comfortable on the Old Course no matter who he’s playing alongside. The Northern Irishman won here in 2020, the first of four PGA Tour Champions titles.
Clarke has come close to taking his fifth title on the 50-and-older circuit this year. He has finished in the top-20 in each of his four starts, including a third-place finish in Naples.
“The game is trending in the right direction,” Clarke said. “I’m hitting it nicely. Like any pro, you want to hole a few more putts. Not making that many.
“It’s always a pleasure to come back to a place you have played well at in the past. They obviously have made some major changes to the course since I won here, much for the better. They made it much tougher. I believe there’s going to be some strong winds coming in, which is great, feel more like home.”
Dan Fouts feels the Hall of Fame camaraderie
Dan Fouts hasn’t taken a hard hit since retiring in 1987, but he can still feel the pain.
The Hall of Fame quarterback has a better relationship with the defensive players who tried to terrorize him.
“Guys were trying to kill me, knock my head off,” Fouts said. “Now those guys are buying me beers and we’re having fun on the golf course. Funny how that changes.”
J.J. Henry makes PGA Tour Champions debut
J.J. Henry turned 50 Wednesday.
His birthday gift? His first spot in a PGA Tour Champions tournament.
Henry won three PGA Tour titles, but that no longer earns players access to the 50-and-older circuit. A player requires four PGA Tour wins to get automatic entry to the PGA Tour Champions. Henry instead got in the James Hardie off his career earnings ($16.9 million).
“I’m happy to get started,” Henry said.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: PGA Tour Champions Darren Clarke looks small standing next to Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz
Reporting by Craig Dolch / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
