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The players for whom the $1 million first-place check means something weren't optimistic after the opening round of the American Express Championship.
While Tiger Woods clinched the PGA Tour money title nearly three months ago, the European Tour's Order of Merit hangs in the balance this week.
It was hard to tell by their scores.
Darren Clarke, who has a slim lead over Lee Westwood, made only one birdie in his round of 74. Westwood hit a 2-iron into the drink on the par-5 17th for a bogey in his round of 72.
"I'm not completely out of it," Westwood said. "I think I'll go back to the hotel and forget about it because it was an absolute pile of rubbish."
Colin Montgomerie, who must win this week for any chance of an eighth consecutive Order of Merit, took four putts from 20 feet on the 17th for a double-bogey. With only one birdie on the card, he was at 75.
Is it over?
"Never," the Scotsman said. "You know me too well for that."
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