GOLF Par gives Sorenstam lead

Americans took the lead in UBS cup, and Tiger eyes a title.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Instead of running away, Annika Sorenstam had to catch up Saturday.
Sorenstam lost her three-shot lead in five holes, then had to make three birdies over the final six holes to salvage an even-par 72 and take a one-shot lead into the final round of the season-ending ADT Championship.
She finished at 10-under 206 to give her a slight cushion over Jennifer Rosales (69) and Cristie Kerr (70). No one else was closer than five shots.
Karrie Webb caught Sorenstam with a rare birdie on the par-3 fifth, only to take double bogey two holes later and slowly drop out of contention by missing short putts. She had a 74 and was in a large group at 5-under 211.
Laura Diaz, playing in the final group with Sorenstam, pulled to within one shot of the lead until she dropped three shots on the final three holes, hitting into the water on the 18th for a double bogey and a 75.
No one felt worse -- or handled her fate better -- than defending champion Meg Mallon. Eight shots behind Sorenstam after the first round, the Women's Open champion got within one shot with a birdie on the 14th and was poised to be a Sunday contender.
But she hit a 7-iron into the water on the par-3 17th to make double bogey, then went from a fluffy lie in the bunker into the water on the 18th for another double bogey. Mallon had a triple bogey on No. 18 in the opening round.
UBS Cup
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. -- Fred Couples and Tom Watson led the comeback, and the American team moved out to a 61/2-51/2 lead over an international team after Saturday's best-ball competition at the $3 million UBS Cup.
Trailing by one point entering the second day of the Ryder Cup-style competition for players 40-and-older, the Americans won three matches, halved two others and lost one. The event ends today with 12 singles matches.
Couples made nine birdies and teamed with Ray Floyd to beat Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle 4 and 2.
Watson had seven birdies on the Cassique Course he designed, and teamed with Hal Sutton to beat Rodger Davis and Peter Senior 3 and 2, tying the match.
The Americans took a two-point lead when Scott Hoch and Curtis Strange defeated Carl Mason and John Chillas 2 and 1.
In the last match, Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer defeated Hale Irwin and Fred Funk 2 and 1, pulling the international team within a point.
Dunlop Phoenix
MIYAZAKI, Japan -- Tiger Woods held a three-stroke lead halfway through the Dunlop Phoenix, hoping to end a drought that has left him without a title since February.
Woods shot a 3-under 67 Friday that gave him a score of 8-under 132 after two rounds in the $1.89 million event, the richest on the Japanese tour. Kaname Yokoo of Japan also shot a 67 for 135. Christian Pena of the United States had the day's best round at 63 and was at 136.
Woods, winner of eight major titles, lost his No. 1 ranking to Vijay Singh two months ago. He enjoyed his lone victory this year at the Match Play Championship. The last time he won a stroke-play tournament was in October 2003. Woods finished eighth in this event two years ago and is seeking his first victory in Japan.
Woods also renewed his criticism of the PGA of America for its decision to pass over friend Mark O'Meara as captain of the 2006 Ryder Cup team. Tom Lehman was chosen a few weeks ago.
"He is a good choice," Woods said. "But he would have been a good choice for America four years from now. Timing wise, I just thought this was Mark's only chance."
The next Ryder Cup matches are in Ireland, and Woods thought O'Meara should have been selected because of his Irish heritage.
Defending champion Thomas Bjorn of Denmark shot a 69 and was at 4-over 144. British Open champion Todd Hamilton had a 76 and just made the cut.