Using different strokes
Opposites Miyazato, Thompson hold lead
Lexi Thompson powered her way to the top of the ANA Inspiration leader board Friday in Rancho Mirage, Calif., using length and strength to counter the thick rough.
“If you’re going to hit it crooked out here, you might as well hit it far and crooked, so you have a shorter shot in,” Thompson said. “But it’s very thick. I had some really nasty lies out there.”
Trying to win the major championship for the second time in three years, Thompson birdied the final hole for a 4-under 68 and a share of the second-round lead with Ai Miyazato at 7 under.
Miyazato, tied for the firstround lead with Azahara Munoz, followed her opening 67 with a 70. The 30-year-old Japanese player also finished with a birdie, hitting to 2 feet on the par-5 ninth.
Short off the tee and in stature at 5 feet 2 inches, Miyazato is far more conservative than Thompson at tree-lined Mission Hills.
“I don’t really want to be too aggressive on this golf course,” Miyazato said. “You need to be really patient and you need to be smart for the course management.”
Top-ranked Lydia Ko (68) was a stroke back along with Suzann Pettersen (67), In Gee Chun (69), Lizette Salas (67), Sung Hyun Park (67) and LeeAnne Pace (70). Michelle Wie (69) topped the group at 5 under.
The Kia Classic winner Sunday in Carlsbad, the 18year-old Ko fought allergies that affected her vision.
“I’m currently one-eye blind,” Ko said. “I don’t have very good eyesight, especially my left side is the worst, so it was really irritating me. Hopefully, it will be OK by tomorrow.”
PGA Tour: Charley Hoffman had a 2-under 70 for a one-shot lead over Jamie Lovemark at the Houston Open.
Lovemark was a former NCAA champion seeking his first Tour title after having his career affected by back surgery. He was one of four players to shoot the day’s low score, 68, under conditions that worsened as the afternoon went on, which helped protect Hoffman from the field.
Dustin Johnson was among those chasing Hoffman, who opened with a 64 Thursday, but Johnson dropped back to 8 under with a bogey on 17, closing with a 71 after narrowly missing a 10-foot birdie putt on 18.
Johnson was in the last group to finish the round before darkness stopped play. A 93-minute morning weather delay brought on by rain and lightning in the area ensured that 27 players will have to complete the second round Saturday morning.
Madison’s Steve Stricker
soared to a 76 and missed the cut.
Champions Tour: The opening round of the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic was moved to Saturday because of heavy rain in Saucier.
The players will tee off at 7 a.m. Saturday with the second round scheduled to begin about 12:30 p.m.
Woods to miss Masters: Tiger Woods is going to Augusta National next week, but not to play.
Woods made it official what most observers figured all along. Recovery from two back surgeries last year has not progressed to the point where it’s wise for him to tee it up at the Masters. It will be the second time in the last three years that Woods has not played the Masters.
Woods did say on his website that he has been hitting golf balls and training daily. But he still had no timetable for when he would return.