Justin Rose still sweet at Hope Classic; Annika says no to retirement

Chilly conditions couldn’t keep Justin Rose from shooting a 66 and taking a two-shot lead into the final round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Scott Verplank is in second, while Robert Allenby leads a group in third place, five shots down. In his first tournament of 2007, Phil Mickelson is tied for 41st, 11 shots off the pace. …

Annika Sorenstam has refuted a Swedish Newspapers story which quoted her as saying she was looking to retire from golf and focus on having children and a family. “I am very much looking forward to the start of the 2007 season and the various business ventures that I’ve become involved in,” said Sorenstam. …

After shooting a blazing 63 on Friday, Brad Bryant has a two shot lead in the Champions Tour’s season-opening MasterCard Championship. Defending champion Loren Roberts and Ben Crenshaw trail. …

Phillip Price shot a 65 on Friday in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship to hold a one-shot lead over European player of the year Padraig Harrington.