Sergio Garcia shot a 6-under-par 66 yesterday to take a two-stroke lead at The Players Championship. The 28-year-old Spaniard is going for his first win in three years … “I’m just looking forward to keep doing the same things – keep hitting the ball well, keep chipping well and keep putting well,” Garcia told reporters. “And then hopefully, by the end of the week, we’ll be where we are supposed to be.” Meanwhile, Masters champion Trevor Immelman had to withdraw from the event with an illness … Michelle Wie struggled yesterday in her first LPGA Tour event since February. She shot a 4-over ...

Anthony Kim finished with a 3-under-par 69 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., for a five-shot win over Ben Curtis at the Wachovia Championship Sunday. Defending champion Tiger Woods wasn’t in the field, still recovering from knee surgery, but Kim channeled Woods in his dominance: the 22 year old beat the tournament record by three strokes … “I’m a little bit numb right now, but that walk up 18 was the best feeling of my entire life,” Kim told reporters. “I’ll never forget that feeling. I had chills going up and down my spine. I want to recreate that as ...

After initially blowing a three-shot lead in the final round of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, Adam Scott came through with a pair of birdie putts on the 18th green Sunday to pull out a victory over Ryan Moore on the third playoff hole. It was Scott’s sixth career victory … “I kind of got away with it, I think, today,” Scott told reporters. “A bit lucky, and certainly the putt on the third playoff hole was pretty lucky to go in.” Darren Clarke won the Asian Open yesterday with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, defeating Robert-Jan Derksen by ...

Three share the lead at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship after the first round. Ryan Moore, Mathew Goggin and Eric Axley all shot 3-under-par 67 Thursday. Jesper Parnevik is only one-shot back after carding a 68 in blustery conditions on the redesigned host course … Paula Creamer shot a 3-under-par 68 Thursday to lead the inaugural Stanford International Pro-Am. Annika Sorestam, who called the opening round “silly tough,” is only one stroke back … Meanwhile, Peter O’Mailey has the early lead at the Asian Open after shooting a 5-under 67 in Shanghai yesterday. Henrik Stenson is in a group of four players ...

Boo Weekley successfully defended his Verizon Heritage title this weekend, defeating Anthony Kim and Aaron Baddeley by three strokes. Weekley finished with an even-par 71 at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, S.C., to earn his second PGA Tour victory and a $990,000 winner’s check … Word No. 1 women’s golfer Lorena Ochoa continued her dominance of the LPGA Tour Sunday. Ochoa won her fourth straight victory at the Ginn Open … “I’m very grateful. It’s been a blessing, you know,” she told reporters. “But I know that bad times will come. It’s just the way life is. I’m just ...

Tiger Woods had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee yesterday, keeping him off the PGA Tour for up to six weeks. This is his second operation on the same knee in five years … Woods will likely miss The Players Championship but has said he’ll be back for the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines … “I made the decision to deal with the pain and schedule the surgery for after the Masters,” Woods said. “The upside is that I have been through this process before and know how to handle it. I look forward to working through the rehabilitation process and getting ...

Trevor Immelman held off Tiger Woods to win the Masters Sunday. The win earned the 28 year old, who only four months ago was lying in a hospital bed after having a tumor removed from his diaphragm, his first major title and a $1.35 million pay check. While mounting a strong comeback, Woods wasn’t able to capitalize on several key opportunities, finishing second for the fifth time in a major. He’ll have to wait until 2009 for the calendar Grand Slam he said was “easily within reason” on his Web site earlier this year. “I learned my lesson there with ...

Justin Rose opened with a 68 yesterday at Augusta National Golf Club to share the first round lead at the Masters with Trevor Immelman. Failing to card a birdie all day, Tiger Woods finished with an even-par 72. Defending champion Zach Johnson shot 70, and two-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson carded a 71 … Woods didn’t appear concerned about his slow start: “I played a lot better than what my score indicates,” he told reporters. “I kept myself in the tournament. I’m right there.” Meanwhile, Fred Couples’ opening round 76 might send him packing before the weekend at the Masters for the ...

The Masters begins today at Augusta National Golf Club. Zach Johnson is the defending champion, but Tiger Woods is going to be tough to beat as he pursues the first win major in his quest for the Grand Slam this year. Geoff Ogilvy is also a player to watch, coming off a three-week hot streak that saw him win at Doral and tie for second at the Houston Open … In the TravelGolf.com This Week podcast, host Dave Berner talks to Brandon Tucker about Tiger Woods’ temper.

Lorena Ochoa won her second major Sunday at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. The Mexican golfer finished with a 5-under-par 67 for a five-stroke victory … “Nothing can stop her,” said World Golf Hall of Fame member Se Ri Pak. Johnson Wagner earned two major career firsts at the same time Sunday: his first PGA Tour title and his first Masters invitation. Wagner’s two-stroke win at the Houston Open gives the 28-year-old golfer a spot in the Masters this week … “Sounds funny, you know, even saying it,” Wagner said. “I don’t care if I shoot 90 both days and miss the cut. I’m ...

Australian golfer Adam Scott overcame illness to shoot a course-record 9-under-par 63 yesterday for a piece of the lead at the Houston Open. Scott, the defending champion, is tied with Johnson Wagner, who matched the Aussie’s 63 on the Tournament Course at Redstone in Humble, Texas, late in the day … At the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Lorena Ochoa is a shot behind leader Karen Stupples after shooting a 4-under-par 68 yesterday at Mission Hills Golf Course. Stupples, who’s getting back into competition less than a year after having her first child, carded a bogey-free round … In other LPGA Tour news, Michelle ...

Lorena Ochoa continued her hot streak and defended her title Sunday at the Safeway International. She won for the second time in three shots this season on the LPGA Tour. Ochoa was a fan favorite at the Arizona tournament held at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club. A big, enthusiastic gallery, complete with three huge Mexican flags, cheered on Ochoa, who dominated with a seven stroke victory (22-under 266 for the tournament). “It was very nice to see the support and feel the love. They care so much,” she said. “They know that I play not only for me but for all ...

The chronic wrist injury that prompted Michelle Wie to withdraw from this week’s Safeway International will likely keep her out of competition until the second week of May, according to recent media reports. The Stanford freshman, who took a leave of absence from the university this spring to focus on competition, aggravated the injury during a practice session earlier this month, according to Wie’s managers at the William Morris Agency, as reported by ESPN.com … At TravelGolf.com, Senior Writer Chris Baldwin profiles Todd Edwards, general manager of Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Thwarting Tiger Woods’ six-month winning streak, former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy won the CA Championship yesterday. The now four-time PGA Tour winner carded a final round 1-under-par 71 to defeat Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh by a stroke. Woods finished in fifth place at Doral, a course Woods has won on each of the past three years … “As players, it’s nice to see somebody else lift a trophy for a change,” Goosen told reporters. Woods said Ogilvy had fortune on his side. “People don’t really understand, you need to have something happen, a positive thing happen to you out ...

Weather caused a three-hour rain delay at the CA Championship in Doral, Fla., Sunday, forcing a continuation on Monday. That’s good news for Tiger Woods, who will likely see his seven-tournament win string end at the conclusion of the competition. Woods sits at five back of leader Geoff Ogilvy (17 under through nine holes) with seven holes remaining. Ogilvy holds a two-shot lead over Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh. Furyk was 15 under through 10, while Singh played nine holes. Retief Goosen and Graeme Storm were three shots back. Adam Scott is at 13 under, tied with Steve Stricker. Play was ...