Golf roundup
Late eagle gives Mickelson share of lead PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) – Phil Mickelson eagled his final hole at Poppy Hills for a 7-under 65 to share the lead with rookie John Mallinger and Nick Watney in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Thursday.
Mickelson and Watney played at Poppy Hills, the easiest of three courses in the rotation because it is the farthest from the Pacific Ocean and shielded by trees.
The best round belonged to Mallinger, a 27-year-old rookie. He was at Pebble Beach, which is exposed to the wind along the cliffs of the ocean. Mallinger, however, started his round on the 10th tee in the virtual calm of the morning, and gusts strong enough to topple a tree at Spyglass Hill didn’t arrive until he had only five holes remaining.
Jim Furyk played his best golf in the worst conditions, making five birdies on the back nine at Spyglass Hill for a 67. Also at 67 was Arjun Atwal at Pebble Beach, who went without a bogey until the 18th.
Malaysian Open
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – England’s Robert Rock shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Malaysian Open.
Australian Ladies Masters
GOLD COAST, Australia – South Korea’s Ahn Sun-ju shot an 8-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Australian Ladies Masters.
The 19-year-old Ahn had 10 birdies and two bogeys on the Royal Pines course in the event sanctioned by the Australian and European tours. Wales’s Rebecca Brewerton and Sweden’s Cecilia Ekelundh opened with 66s.
Americans Cristie Kerr and Natalie Gulbis were five strokes back after 69s. Five-time champion Karrie Webb, coming off a victory last week in the Women’s Australian Open, shot a 71.