GOLF Howell breaking away in final event

Annika Sorenstam is off to a good start in Japan, trying for a third straight win.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON, Texas -- Two great holes put Charles Howell III in a familiar position Friday in the Tour Championship.
Howell holed a 10-foot eagle putt on No. 13 and followed that with a 10-foot birdie putt to break away from the pack with another 4-under 67, making it the second straight year he has taken a one-stroke lead into the weekend of the PGA Tour's final event.
Eight players were tied for the lead at one point on a cool, overcast day at Champions Golf Club. Howell only needed two holes to separate himself from the others -- and leave Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh even further behind.
Howell was at 8-under 134 and will play in the final group today with 46-year-old Fred Funk (67), who appears to be rounding into form with the Presidents Cup looming.
Retief Goosen, coming off a victory last week at Innisbrook, was among those tied for the lead late in the round until he had to scramble for a bogey on the 17th hole. He shot 67 and was another stroke back at 136.
LPGA
OTSU, Japan -- Annika Sorenstam opened with a 9-under-par 63 Friday at the Mizuno Classic, which she is trying to win for the third straight year.
The Swede is attempting to become the first player in LPGA Tour history with three consecutive victories in more than one event.
Sorenstam did not have a bogey in the first round. She birdied five of her first seven holes and closed with a birdie putt on No. 18.
South Korea's Grace Park and Jung Yeon Lee were two strokes back and countrywoman Mi-Hyun Kim had a 66.
"Today was very good," said Sorenstam, seeking her fourth victory in her last five LPGA events in Japan. "On a scale from 1 to 10, it was probably an eight."
A victory on Seta's North Course would clinch LPGA player of the year honors with two events remaining. The award is determined on a points system based on top-10 finishes.
South Korea's Se Ri Pak and Canada's Lorie Kane topped a group at 67. Australia's Karrie Webb and Rachel Teske were five strokes behind along with Sweden's Sophie Gustafson and the United States' Laura Diaz. Kane won the 2000 tournament at Seta, beating Gustafson in a playoff.