DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Former Arizona Wildcat standout Annika Sorenstam had an eagle and four birdies in a 6-under 66 Friday that gave her a one-shot lead after the second round of the Dubai Ladies Masters.
This is her last tournament before retiring.
After dropping two shots on her final two holes Thursday, Sorenstam managed a bogey-free second round to finish at 8-under 136, one shot ahead of Nikki Garrett.
First-round leader Johanna Head was among three players tied for third, another shot back.
"I was very pleased with the front nine today," said Sorenstam, who hopes to win the tournament for the third straight year. "(I had) a nice eagle on the third hole where I hit a 5-iron to 10 feet and rolled that in. That kick-started my day right there."
Laura Davies was among three players tied for sixth at 5 under.
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Sorenstam started with a couple of pars before her eagle on the par-5 third. She then picked up three more shots on the front nine, then added another birdie on the 13th.
"My goal was to clean up the round that I had yesterday with no bogeys, and I was able to do that," Sorenstam said. "So, I am very pleased about that."
Garrett, who won twice in 2007, said it would be challenging to spoil Sorenstam's farewell party.
"It's been a while since I won my last tournament, and it would be great if I win here," she said. "But with Annika there, and so determined to do well in her final tournament, I know it won't be easy."
PGA Tour
NAPLES, Fla. — Jeff Sluman made a 35-foot downhill birdie from off the green on No. 18 as he and Nick Price combined for an 8-under 64 that gave them a one-shot lead over Scott Hoch and Kenny Perry at the Merrill Lynch Shootout on Friday.
"When I hit the putt and it got through the fringe so well, it just went through perfect, I said 'Oh, boy, this is probably going a little harder than Nick wants,' " said Sluman, knowing Price would have to hit the next putt in the modified alternate shot format.
"I was looking 4 or 5 feet by," Price said, chuckling. "I was at an angle, and I couldn't see the line of it."
The ball smacked the flagstick and dropped in the cup.
Sluman and Perry could become the first Champions Tour players to win the $2.9 million Shootout, a 12-team event that continues with a better-ball format today, and a scramble on Sunday.
Hoch, who also plays on the Champions Tour, and Perry birdied four straight holes to get to 7 under, then Perry made a 10-foot par putt on No. 18.
J.B. Holmes and Boo Weekley eagled No. 17 to finish at 5 under and move into third. Zach Johnson and Scott Verplank birdied the last two holes to get to 4 under. They are tied with Stewart Cink and Fred Couples.
European Tour
MALELANE, South Africa — Len Mattiace, Robert Rock and Oskar Henningsson shared the halfway lead of the Alfred Dunhill Championship on Friday at 11-under 133.
Richard Sterne was one shot behind, followed by 2005 champ Charl Schwartzel, who is among five players two strokes off the lead in the European Tour event.
Lee Westwood was three behind, and former Arizona Wildcat Rory Sabbatini was five off the pace.
Chip shots
● Max Elbin, a longtime head pro at Burning Tree who was president of the PGA of America when tournament players broke away to form the PGA Tour, died Friday. He was 88. He died of heart failure, the PGA said. Elbin played and taught six U.S. presidents at Burning Tree, the private club outside Washington where presidents, congressmen and business executives play golf.
