Sorenstam shares lead with Se Ri Pak, Mallon

Tiger Woods lost more ground to the leader at the Dunlop Phoenix event.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The end of the year is no different from the beginning or any part in the middle. Annika Sorenstam is on her game, contending for yet another title in the ADT Championship.
Sorenstam gave herself ample birdie chances Thursday at Trump International and converted enough of them for a 5-under 67, giving her a share of the first-round lead with an ailing Se Ri Pak and Meg Mallon.
It was a solid showing by the top two players on the LPGA Tour.
Sorenstam already has won 10 times this year, the most on the LPGA in 34 years. Pak has had her best season with five victories, including her fourth major.
The South Korean was particularly impressive Thursday, considering an impacted tooth and a wrist injury nearly forced her to withdraw before she got to the first tee.
Pak had the outright lead until driving into the rough on the final hole, hitting her approach into the bunker and failing to make a 7-foot par putt.
Sorenstam only missed one green in regulation, made her only bogey by three-putting on No. 14 and was never too far away from the cup.
Defending champion Karrie Webb had a 3-under 69, despite taking bogey on the 18th hole and missing a 2-foot par putt on No. 14. She was joined by Kelly Robbins, Lorie Kane of Canada, Rosie Jones and Patricia Meunier-Lebouc of France.
Beth Bauer, the LPGA rookie of the year, was among those at 70.
Dunlop Phoenix
MIYAZAKI, Japan -- Tiger Woods lost more ground today, shooting a 3-under 68 to fall eight strokes behind second-round leader Kaname Yokoo.
Woods holed a 40-foot eagle chip on the par-5 fourth hole, but added only a lone birdie on No. 16 to finish 36 holes at 3-under 139.
Yokoo had six birdies in a bogey-free 65 that left him at 11-under -- four strokes ahead of Spain's Sergio Garcia (68), England's Justin Rose (69) and Myanmar's Zaw Moe (67).
BMW Asian Open
TA SHEE, Taiwan -- John Daly honored his mother's wishes by playing in the BMW Asian Open today following her death in the United States.
Before the tournament began, Daly told reporters that his 65-year-old mother, Lou, was seriously ill with lung cancer. Late Thursday night, he issued a statement saying she had died.
"Before leaving on this three-week trip, I spoke to my mom, and her words and wishes were that I should play in China, Taipei and Australia," Daly said. "I will grant my mom's wishes and continue to play here."
Daly shot a 2-over 74 for an even-par 144 total, leaving the American 12 strokes behind leader Maarten Lafeber of the Netherlands. Lafeber shot his second straight 6-under 66 on the Ta Shee Golf and Country Club course.
Lafeber had an eagle and five birdies to take a four-stroke lead over Ireland's Padraig Harrington (70) and South Africa's Trevor Immelman (67).
Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Charles Howell III took full advantage of the decision to re-start the first round of the Australian Open from scratch, shooting a 5-under-par 65 today to take a one-stroke lead.
The 23-year-old American was 10-over after 14 holes Thursday when organizers called off play because the Victoria Gold Club's dry greens were two fast to putt.