Darren Clarke and Pádraig Harringtons chances of victory in the Simmons Bank Championship, the penultimate event on the PGA Tour Champions calendar, have ended after the pair went in the wrong direction on moving day and Steven Alker consolidated his big lead at the top.
After an opening 68 that left him tied for eighth at -4, Clarke had an up and down day in round two, making five birdies but adding four bogeys, and despite carding a second successive round in red figures, his one-under round two tally saw him slip five places into a share of 13th.
Harrington, who arrived as the defending champion after a two-stroke win in 2024, needed to add another victory to his resume if he was to have any hope of finishing the year as the number-one-ranked player on the tour, but after opening with a 70, a two-over 74 that included a double bogey and finished with three consecutive bogey sees him fall back to level-par and tied for 38th.
But New Zealander Steven Alker has one hand firmly on the trophy after backing up his course-record breaking 61 with a six-under 66 to move to -17 and take a five-stroke lead over Tag Ridings into the final round.
A win would lift the Kiwi to the top of the Schwab Cup Rankings, overtaking Miguel Angel Jimenez who has been at the top of the board since early in the season.
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