Michelle Wie is in seventh place at the Ladies German Open after shooting an opening round 4-under-par 68 yesterday. She trails the leader, Nina Reis of Sweden, by four strokes … “I felt l was a little bit Rusty,” Wie told reporters after her round. “But I am happy with how I played today.” On the PGA Tour, Mathew Goggin is the early leader at the Memorial. Goggin carded a 7-under 65 to go one-up on Kenny Perry and Jerry Kelly. Goggin needed only nine putts over his final nine holes … Meanwhile, Scott Strange shot an 8-under-par 63 Thursday to lead the ...

Lorena Ochoa has withdrawn from the Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika to spend time with her sick uncle. The No. 1-ranked women’s golfer has returned to Mexico, replaced in the field by Eva Dahllof … “I am very sorry to have to withdraw … But my uncle is very ill,” Ochoa said in a statement. “I need to be with my uncle and my family right now.” Meanwhile, Ernie Els has reversed his earlier announcement that he wouldn’t play in the Memorial. Els won the event in 2004 … In the TravelGolf.com This Week podcast, host Dave Berner talks to Chris Baldwin about ...

Phil Mickelson shot a 2-under-par 68 yesterday to win the Crowne Plaza Invitational. He finished with a nine-foot birdie putt for the victory, but it was the previous shot – a 140-yard wedge from heavy rough – that defined the tournament for “Lefty.” Mickelson had to hit under one tree and over another, the ball striking branches as it ascended … “Just lucky,” Mickelson told reporters. “I’m as surprised as anybody I was able to make a 3 from over there.” Jay Haas closed with a 4-over 74 yesterday at Oak Hill Country Club to win the 69th Senior PGA Championship. It ...

Ryuji Imada won the AT&T Classic Sunday after Kenny Perry found the water on the 73rd hole. This is the first PGA Tour victory for Imada, who lost the same tournament in a playoff last year with Zach Johnson … Lorena Ochoa shot a 1-under 71 yesterday to win the Sybase Classic. It is her third straight LPGA Tour victory … “It was a tough day, but I did it,” Ochoa told reporters. “I think that was what was important.” Meanwhile, Andy Bean closed with a 2-under 70 to win the Champions Tour’s Regions Charity Classic Sunday. Bean defeated Loren Roberts for his ...

Annika Sorenstam said Tuesday she is retiring from professional golf at the end of this season. The 37-year-old Swede, who said she’d been thinking about retiring “for a while,” has won 72 LPGA Tour titles in her career. The Dubai Ladies Masters will be Sorenstam’s last event … “I have made a decision to step away from competitive golf after this season,” she told reporters at a press conference. “Obviously this was a very difficult decision for me to make because I love this game so much. But it’s the right one. I’m leaving the game on my terms.”

Sergio Garcia won The Players Championship in a playoff with Paul Goydos this weekend for the biggest win of his career. The win is particularly special to Garcia after his playoff loss last summer in the British Open … “It feels like a major, and it tests you like a major,” Garcia said. “I’m so thrilled to be here standing with this trophy.” Annika Sorenstam appears to be returning to form after a 2007 LPGA Tour season hobbled by injury. Sorenstam finished with a 5-under-par 66 Sunday to win the Michelob Ultra Open. She beat four other players by a whopping seven ...

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 ...