Harrington on top at Nissan as Mickelson, Furyk, Els trail; Creamer a leader at SBS Open

Padraig Harrington shot a blistering 63 to take a three-shot lead after the first round of the Nissan Open. Harrington, the reigning European player of the year, is on top of a star-studded leaderboard in Los Angeles, as Phil Mickelson, Briny Baird and Pat Perez are tied for second after carding 66s, and Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia and David Howell were another shot back at four-under. Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen all kept themselves in contention …

Paula Creamer was in a three-way tie for the first-round lead along Women’s British Open champion Sherri Steinhauer and rookie Paige Mackenzie at the LPGA Tour’s season-opening SBS Open. Julieta Granada and Natalie Gulbis were one shot back after shooting four-under 68. Karrie Webb (70) and Lorena Ochoa (71) also kept themselves in contention at the Hawaii tournament. …

Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol shot an opening-round 65 to hold the lead at the Indonesia Open yesterday. Finland’s Mikko Ilonen is a stroke back at the tournament at Damai Indah Golf and Country Club. Three dozen players were unable to finish their rounds due to rain. …

Georgia-based Hilda W. Allen Real Estate brokerage, sells golf courses for a living. And as she is quick to point out, she’s good at it: “I am the competition,” Allen will say. Allen has brokered more than 20 deals worth nearly a billion dollars. Allen talks about her lucrative business at GolfCourseRealty.com.