PACIFIC PALISADES, California — Former major winners Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen struck a blow for the old guard on the PGA Tour as the two veterans surged into a six-way tie for the lead at the Northern Trust Open Thursday. Playing together in the opening round at a sun-splashed Riviera Country Club, the seasoned campaigners fired matching five-under-par 66s on a firm and fast-running layout with barely a breath of wind. Singh piled up six birdies and a lone bogey while Goosen picked up three shots in his last six holes as they finished the round level with Americans Nick Watney, James Hahn, Daniel Summerhays and Derek Fathauer. Mexican Carlos Ortiz opened with a 67 while Germany's Alex Cejka, Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Americans Justin Thomas and William McGirt carded 68s. “I kept my ball in play, hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens and when I did miss, I chipped it real close,” former world No. 1 Singh. Masters champion Bubba Watson, who won last year's Northern Trust Open, launched his title defense with a 70 to end the day level with long-hitting American Dustin Johnson and triple major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland. Ko tied for lead No. 1-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand, helped by a chip-in eagle, took a share of the second-round lead Friday with South Korea's Jang Ha-na and Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand at the Women's Australian Open at Royal Melbourne. The 17-year-old South Korean-born Ko, playing her second tournament since becoming the youngest golfer, male or female, to earn the top ranking, shot a three-under 70 while Jang finished with a 69 and Jutanugarn had a 71, giving the leaders 36-hole totals of 6-under 140. England's Charley Hull, the Ladies European Tour's top money winner last year, was in fourth place after a 71, two strokes behind. American Jessica Korda, the 2012 champion at Royal Melbourne, shot 71 and was in fifth place, three strokes off the lead and tied with South Korean Amy Yang, who shot 70. Tiger to miss Honda Former world No. 1 Tiger Woods, who has vowed not to return to competition until his deteriorating game improves markedly, won't play next week in the PGA Tour's Honda Classic. The 39-year-old American, chasing Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major championships, has plummeted to 66th in the world rankings after suffering a series of injuries and a severe slump in form. “We continue to wish Tiger a speedy recovery,” said Ken Kennerly, executive director of the tournament in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. In his statement Thursday, Kennerly said that Woods' agent Mark Steinberg had notified the tournament that the 14-time major champion wouldn't play. Woods could now target a comeback at the Arnold Palmer Invitational March 19-22. — Agencies
