Roger Clemens in federal court before golf in Myrtle Beach area

CALABASH, N.C. -- Roger Clemens drove his golf cart down the 18th fairway of The Pearl Golf Links' East Course amid shadows created by a sun setting behind tall pines at 7:15 p.m. Monday.

A par on the par-5 18th brought to a near close a whirlwind day that included a 2 p.m. court hearing in Washington, D.C., flight on a private jet into North Myrtle Beach, and his first round of golf in the 27th annual Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship.

Clemens arrived at a courthouse in Washington, D.C., four hours before his 2 p.m. arraignment hearing for six counts - three on making false statements, two of perjury and one on obstruction of Congress - related to testimony he gave to Congress in 2008 regarding his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs.

He left The Pearl at 7:40 p.m., refusing to answer any substantive questions from reporters.

"I got a little golf in," said Clemens, who was granted a special 5:30 p.m. tee time and played with a tournament-assigned marker nine hours after the other competitors in his flight in the 3,100-player event teed off. "It was a great day. I appreciate what everybody involved did."

About five hours before he reached his right hand into the cup on the 18th green to complete his round, Clemens placed it on a lectern, leaned down toward the microphone and made what might be the most important pitch of his life: "Not guilty, your honor."

Those words, uttered Monday in a strong, confident voice by the seven-time Cy Young award winner sporting a black blazer and blond highlights in his hair, marked the official beginning of a court case that could taint baseball even further and land the "Rocket" in jail.

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton set April 5 as the start of jury selection - the Monday of the first full week of the 2011 baseball season, and also around the time a case involving Barry Bonds, the all-time home run king, could be wrapping up in San Francisco.

Clemens and Bondsare in jeopardy of becoming the first baseball stars jailed because of a conviction related to the performance-enhancing-drug controversy that has sullied their sport for the past 15 years.

If convicted of the six counts, Clemens could face up to 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine, although 15 to 21 months is the more likely sentence under federal guidelines.

As he has throughout the process, Clemens again fought any suggestion that he cheated during a 23-season career that ended with 354 wins and 4,672 strikeouts. He won his first three Cy Young awards in 1986, '87 and '91, dipped ever so slightly, then won four more in 1997, '98, 2001 and 2004, at the age of 42.

On Monday, he was in Washington because of testimony he gave in 2008. He went before a House committee to clear his name after becoming a prominent figure in the Mitchell Report, an unflinching account of baseball's drug crisis that came out the year before.

Back then, Clemens testified: "Let me be clear. I have never taken steroids or HGH."

Clemens' lawyer waived his client's right to have the charges read, then the judge asked for Clemens' plea.

"Not guilty, your honor," he said.

The case has been portrayed, as one of Clemens' word against those who gave unfriendly testimony against him in Congress. The key figures there are his former trainer Brian McNamee, who said the pitcher did use steroids and HGH. Former teammate Andy Pettitte also told congressional investigators that Clemens told him he had used HGH - a conversation Clemens said Pettitte "misremembers."

Rusty Hardin, one of Clemens' lawyers, said there is much scientific evidence to comb through, as well, including presumably the syringes McNamee says he used to inject Clemens with drugs.

On Monday, Hardin was given access to the grand jury testimony and FBI interviews that were used to indict Clemens.

"There's a good deal of scientific evidence that needs to be tested," Hardin told the judge.

While the crux of the case is whether Clemens used steroids or HGH, any conviction would have to come on evidence that he lied to Congress about it. It's a sort of backdoor way that authorities have used to ensnare some of America's most high-profile athletes who have been accused of using PEDs.

Sprinter Marion Jones went to jail when, threatened with years in prison because of an illegal check-writing scheme, she finally admitted to lying about drugs, too.

The Bonds case is also a perjury case, set to start March 21. He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he lied to a grand jury in December 2003 when he testified that he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.

As Clemens hustled out of the courtroom, he was followed by at least 50 reporters, then met by 100 more cameramen. Two security guards trying to help him out of the building and into his waiting Escalade nearly tackled the pitcher as they tried to keep onlookers at bay.

One fan yelled "I love you!" but Clemens likely didn't hear. He already had his iPod on. He was no more eager to speak with reporters on the Strand. Two greeted his plane at Grand Strand Airport, but an SUV was driven to the plane's door and he left the airport quickly.

Though cordial, he refused to answer media questions either before or after his round at The Pearl. For the remainder of the tournament, Clemens will be playing with other tournament participants in the second flight.

"[The tournament] was planned before the other thing happened," said Clemens' wife, Debbie, who is also playing in the event. "It's a great tournament so far. It's nice."

The former Texas Longhorn played his 18-hole round in less than two hours, with his wife alongside, country music playing from their cart. The 4-handicap shot a 12-over-par 84, the same score his wife shot earlier in the day at Legends Resort's Heathland Course.

"It's getting late in the day," Clemens said as he left a chip about 12 feet short of the cup, then missed the birdie putt.

Clemens' flight had an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start, but Clemens was granted the special tee time because of the odd circumstances of his schedule Monday, and played both with a marker to keep his score and tournament rules official Lew Gach.

"We've never been asked before," said tournament director Dave Macpherson of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday about the special tee time. "The question was brought up to the committee, and we said if it's something we could do and it's within the rules of golf we would help him if needed."

The tournament was included in many national media reports about Clemens and his plea. "I think it's kind of cool that someone like that would want to come and join the other 3,100 players," Macpherson said. "Myrtle Beach has been on the map today for sure."