DURBAN — South African Louis Oosthuizen birdied the final hole to take a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Volvo Golf Champions tournament at Durban Country Club Friday. The former British Open champion birdied eight holes — five on the front nine and three on the journey back — and did not drop a shot for a 64 and a halfway 132 total. Oosthuizen is one stroke ahead of Scott Jamieson and first round leader Thongchai Jaidee. The Scot also returned a 64 over the 6,111m course while the Thai had a 68, three shots more than he took Thursday. There is a six-shot gap between the leader and those tied for fourth place on 139 — Dane Thomas Bjorn, Julien Quesne of France, Scot Paul Lawrie, Danny Willett of England, Indian Jeev Milkha Singh and Shane Lowry of Ireland. Reigning British Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Francesco Molinari of Italy are a stroke further back in the 33-man field. Defending champion Branden Grace of South Africa, winner of five European Tour events last season, atoned for a disappointing opening 75 with a 67 that placed him on 142, nine strokes behind Oosthuizen. Rookie Langley leads Sony Open In Hawaii, American rookie Scott Langley made an impressive start to his PGA Tour career Thursday, going bogey free in the opening round of the Sony Open to seize a one-shot lead. Langley, 23, who earned his full-time Tour card at qualifying school, shot an eight-under 62 — with his round at the Waialae Country Club including a 56-foot eagle shot and a 29-foot birdie putt. He ended one shot ahead of playing partner and fellow rookie Russell Henley, a three-time winner on the Web.com Tour, who was alone in second spot. South African Tim Clark and American Scott Piercy posted matching rounds of 64, while Canada's Stephen Ames and American Jeff Overton were a further stroke back. Americans Matt Kuchar, US Open champion Webb Simpson and Tim Herron are among 10 players tied for seventh at four-under 66. Langley is no stranger to high-level golf. He tied for low amateur three years ago in Pebble Beach and previously qualified for two US Opens. Dustin Johnson bogeyed his last two holes to open with a 70 while US Open champion Webb Simpson carded a 66. Fellow American Johnson Wagner launched his title defense with a four-bogey 71 in the PGA Tour's first full-field event of the season. Qatar refuses to pay Tiger's fee Tiger Woods may guarantee packed galleries but even Qatar cannot afford the former world No. 1's appearance fee for the only European Tour event in the Gulf state. The American's involvement at the Jan. 23-26 Qatar Masters would cost a whopping $3 million, said Qatar Golf Association President Hassan Al-Nuaimi. “Tiger Woods demands $3 million just for an appearance, if he were to compete — which is not worth paying for a tournament of $2.5 million prize money,” he told the Doha News. Instead, 14-time major winner Woods begins his season at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship next week before returning home to compete in the US PGA Tour's Farmers Insurance Open. Woods finished tied third in Abu Dhabi last year and has never played in Qatar. — Agencies
