Woods could may end win drought in Japan

Tiger Woods held a three-stroke lead halfway through the Dunlop Phoenix in Miyazaki, Japan, hoping to end a drought that has left him without a title since February.

Woods shot a 3-under 67 Friday that gave him a score of 8-under 132 after two rounds in the $1.89 million event, the richest on the Japanese tour. Kaname Yokoo of Japan also shot a 67 for 135. Christian Pena of the United States had the day's best round at 63 and was at 136.

"Things are starting to come together," Woods said. "For the past three or four months I've been a little more at ease making shots, and consequently the scores are getting better."

LPGA Tour

Just when it looked like a bad day was about to get worse, Annika Sorenstam turned a good break into a birdie that changed everything Friday in the season-ending ADT Championship.

Annika Sorenstam kept pace with a steady charge from Karrie Webb, then pulled away with back-to-back birdies late in the second round for a 4-under 68 that set the 36-hole record at Trump International in West Palm Beach, Fla. She took a three-shot lead over Webb, Laura Diaz and Cristie Kerr.

"I've got a little lead, but not a comfortable lead at all," said Sorenstam, who was at 10-under 134. "On this golf course, it can change on one hole."

It changed for the better on the par-5 ninth.

Sorenstam was even par for her round, and her body language showed utter frustration -- she shook her head and slumped her shoulders. When she walked off the eighth green, she no longer had the lead. Then, her 7-wood from 214 yards on No. 9 sailed high and to the right, headed for trouble.

"It was inches from hitting the path and going into the bushes," Sorenstam said. "I saw my mom standing there and she said, 'Are you trying to hit me?' It was a good break. It was a momentum shifter."

Sorenstam hit a wedge into 6 feet for an unlikely birdie that lifted her spirits. Four birdies on the back nine gave her a cushion that might look even bigger considering who's in front.

Webb shot a 69, and Diaz had a 68 and will play in the final group Saturday with Sorenstam.

Pebble Beach Invitational

Kirk Triplett and PGA Tour rookie Ryan Palmer each shot a 6-under 66 Friday and moved into a tie for the lead with Nationwide Tour player Nick Watney after two rounds of the Pebble Beach Invitational.

Triplett, who won the event in 1996, moved to 9-under 135 on a clear, near windless day at Spyglass Hill Golf Course, one of the three courses used in the tournament.

"I've played some good rounds at Spyglass, but I can't think of a better round than this," said Triplett, who had six birdies and no bogeys. "I just really played well today."

The 72-hole event is being played at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass and Del Monte Golf Course.

The tournament includes 54 pros from the LPGA, Champions, Nationwide and PGA Tours, and a number of club pros, amateurs and minor tour players.

Triplett, whose last victory on the PGA Tour came at the 2003 Reno-Tahoe Open in 2003, finished 38th on the money list last season.

Watney, who shot a 67, and Palmer played at Del Monte.

Jeff Brehaut shot a 67 and was alone in second at 8 under. Tommy Armour is another shot back after a 67.

World Cup

Englishmen Paul Casey and Luke Donald surged to a five-stroke lead in the second round of the team World Cup on Friday in Seville, Spain after shooting an 8-under-par 64.

The pair has a total of 19-under 125. Austrians Martin Wiegele and Markus Brier carded a 70, with a half dozen teams six strokes behind the leaders: South Africa (65), Sweden (67), Spain (68), Japan (69), Ireland (71) and the United States (67).

Scott Verplank and Bob Tway are competing for the Americans.

-- From wire reports