GOLF Canadian Leggatt provides early lead

His birdie on No. 18 gave his team a 13-under-par 59 first round.
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) -- The hole that grounded the French and brought Phil Mickelson to his knees didn't faze Canadian Ian Leggatt.
Leggatt's 360-yard drive on No. 18 took all the worry and water out of play Thursday. Moments later, Leggatt made a birdie to wrap up first-round leader Canada's 13-under-par 59 in the World Cup.
"Ian just absolutely killed a drive down there and had probably only 70 yards [to the green]," partner Mike Weir said.
The 18th at the Vista Vallarta course is a 429-yard downhill par-4 with a rock-filled creek that splits the fairway and then winds down the left side of the fairway to the green.
"It's a good finishing hole," Weir said. "You have to stand up there and hit a good tee shot."
French fail
The French team of Thomas Levet and Raphael Jacquelin didn't and it cost them a share of the lead.
Neither did Mickelson. His tee shot ended up in the hazard next to a small green bush and he had to get on his knees to hit his second shot.
It was the final tough lie on a difficult day for Mickelson and partner David Toms. The top-seeded Americans struggled with their putting and shot a 65, but Toms was confident they can rally.
"We pair well together," Toms said. "There are three days left, we have some ground to make up, and I think we'll do it."
The format in the opening round of the four-day two-man event was best ball and changes to alternating shot in the second round.
Next
Australia's Craig Parry and Adam Scott were second, a shot behind Weir and Leggatt, after a round of 60 on 12 birdies.
Parry, who ended a 10-year drought on the PGA Tour with a win at the NEC Invitational in August, had seven birdies, including the first three holes. The 22-year-old Scott helped out with birdies on two of the last three holes.
South Korea, the No. 12 seed, was tied with France at 11-under, and defending champion South Africa and Sweden were 10-under. South Africa, which won last year's with Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, is represented this year by Tim Clark and Rory Sabbatini.
Levet and Jacquelin had the lead when they got to the finishing hole. Both hit shots into the hazard and had to count Levet's double-bogey. It was a tough finish to an otherwise good round, but it didn't discourage the Frenchmen.