Golf roundup: Justin Rose leads; Tiger Woods survives cut

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Justin Rose was happy to be leading the AT&T National, especially because it was only five days ago that he threw away a chance to win with a surprising meltdown in the final round.

Tiger Woods? He's happy to still be playing.

Rose played bogey-free Friday and wound up with the best score of the tournament, a 6-under 64, to build a one-shot lead over Jason Day (68) and Charlie Wi (65) going into the weekend at demanding Aronimink Golf Club.

Woods, who won this tournament last year at Congressional, hit the ball well for the second straight day. He again got nothing out of it, however, and missed a 30-inch putt late in the round that brought him back to a 70. He was at 3-over 143, which made the cut on the number, although he was never in serious danger of going home early.

In his first tournament since winning the Memorial by closing with a 66, Rose had a three-shot lead at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn., when it all fell apart. He shot 39 on the back nine for a 75 and tied for ninth.

LPGA TOUR: At Sylvania, Ohio, Na Yeon Choi followed her opening 7-under 64 with a 67 to take a two-stroke lead in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.

Choi has needed just 53 putts in 36 holes while getting to 11-under 131 at Highland Meadows Golf Club. South Korean compatriot Inbee Park (66) was tied for second with Christina Kim (67) and Canadian Alena Sharp (68).

Kristy McPherson holed a 60-degree wedge from 75 yards on the 18th hole for an eagle and a 68 to lead a pack of six players at 6 under.CHAMPIONS TOUR: At Blainville, Quebec, Tom Wargo shot a 7-under 65 — the first time he has bettered his age in Champions Tour play — for a share of the first-round lead in the inaugural Montreal Championship. The 67-year-old Wargo, the former Centralia, Ill., club pro who won the last of his four Champions Tour titles in 2000, had a bogey-free round at Fontainebleau Golf Club to match Russ Cochran atop the leaderboard and also tie the course record.

Jay Don Blake, Joey Sindelar, John Cook, Tom Purtzer, Jay Haas and James Mason opened with 66s. Corey Pavin, coming off a playoff loss in the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship, had a 68. Fred Couples shot a 69.

FRENCH OPEN: At Versailles, France, Spain's Alejandro Canizares shot his second straight 5-under 66, birdieing the final three holes to take a one-stroke lead over defending champion Martin Kaymer in the French Open.

Kaymer shot a 67. Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen (71) was 8 under.