World Challenge
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Zach Johnson birdied four of the par 5s and shot a 5-under 67 to take a one-shot lead Thursday over Matt Kuchar in the World Challenge.
Only five players in the elite 18-man field managed to break par at Sherwood Country Club. One of them was tournament host Tiger Woods, who had a new driver in the bag and missed only two fairways. The problem was his putter, including a short birdie attempt that missed on the last hole. He had a 71.
Kuchar hit his approach to 2 feet on the final hole for a 68.
Hunter Mahan and Bubba Watson were at 70. They are among seven players who have yet to win a tournament this year, even though everyone at Sherwood is among the top 30 in the world.
Nedbank Challenge
SUN CITY, South Africa — England’s Luke Donald topped the Nedbank Golf Challenge leaderboard at 5 under when first-round play was suspended for the day because of lightning.
Donald completed 11 holes at Gary Player Country Club.
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and Wales’ Jamie Donaldson were 3 under. Bjorn played six holes, and Donaldson completed 12. Defending champion Martin Kaymer of Germany was 2 under after six holes.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, playing for the first time since ending last season with the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup and European Tour’s Race to Dubai titles, was 1 under after seven holes.
The European Tour is sanctioning the event for the first time.
Hong Kong Open
HONG KONG — Ireland’s David Higgins shot a 6-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead in the Hong Kong Open.
Italy’s Andrea Pavan was second in the event sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.
Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain opened with a 70. Last year, Jimenez became the oldest champion in European Tour history, winning at 48 years, 318 days. He also won the event in 2005 and 2008.
John Daly had a 78. Daly is making his third start since having surgery on his right elbow in July. He tied for 48th last month in China in the BMW Masters and missed the cut last week in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
Dubai Ladies Masters
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Stacy Lewis shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead during the suspended second round of the Dubai Ladies Masters.
The third-ranked Lewis, a three-time winner this year on the LPGA Tour, had a 9-under 135 total at Emirates Golf Course in the Ladies European Tour’s season-ending tournament.
Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg was second after a 69. Spain’s Carlota Ciganda was 7 under after a 70, and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum was another stroke back after a 70.
Six players were unable to complete the round because of darkness.
Former Giro winner Di Luca banned for life
ROME — Former Giro d’Italia winner Danilo Di Luca has been banned from cycling for life following a third doping offense, joining Lance Armstrong as one of the highest profile riders to be kicked out of the sport.
The Italian Olympic Committee’s anti-doping court issued the verdict Thursday.
The 37-year-old Di Luca tested positive for the blood booster EPO in a surprise test in April, five days before this year’s Giro.
Di Luca already served a 15-month ban after testing positive during the 2009 Giro for CERA, an advanced form of EPO.
And after winning the 2007 Giro, Di Luca was banned for three months later in the year for frequent visits to a banned physician.
The Vini Fantini-Selle Italia squad fired Di Luca immediately after his latest positive was announced.
By wire sources