Aussie doing all the Wright stuff to share lead

Wright is well-positioned to go after his first win - sinking nine ⁠birdies, including four of his last five holes.

It helped ​absorb a double bogey at the par-4 13th. He said his son Charlie carried his bag and read ​most of ‌his putts for him Friday.

"This is his first Champions event and his first event ever ​was three weeks ago in Australia," Wright said. "He's doing a great job. I love having him on the bag."

Clarke made two eagles over his final four holes to grab a share of the lead.

Tied for third one stroke behind are defending champion Justin Leonard, Scott Parel, Rob ‌Labritz and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez.

Clarke already had a busy round when he reached the par-5 15th, with five birdies and two bogeys on his card. He reached the green in two on that hole, and again at the par-5 18th, sinking eagle putts both times.

"The one on 15, I ‌hit driver, three-iron ‌from 237 (yards) to ⁠12 feet and holed it for eagle," said Clarke, 57.

"Then the ​last one I hit driver, three-wood. The three-wood was from 241 or something straight into the wind. Hit it to 15 feet behind the hole. So they were both pretty good. Take those any day."

Leonard posted four birdies on each nine. After a bogey at ​No.​17, he bounced back at No.18 ​when he stuck his approach shot a few ‌feet from the hole to set up birdie.

"I hit a lot of greens today," Leonard said. "I think I may have only missed one or two greens. Did make a couple bogeys, but I played well on the par-5s and got off to a good start. I kind of did all ​the things you need to do around here."

Leonard won by four shots here in 2025.

Two shots ​off the pace at ⁠five-under 67 are Bo Van Pelt, David Toms, Germany's Alex Cejka and ​South Korea's K.J. Choi.

Rod Pampling is the next best of the Australian contingent. He is tied 16th at three under after his 69.

Matthew Goggin is two behind while Stuart Appleby, Richard Green and Steve Allan are all even par.