GOLF ROUNDUP : Love and Couples Give U.S. Big World Cup Lead

Fred Couples and Davis Love expanded the United States’ lead at the World Cup of Golf on Friday at Dorado, Puerto Rico.

Couples and Love, in search of a record third consecutive World Cup title, started slowly, but a string of seven birdies over five holes turned a one-stroke lead into a rout.

The Americans finished 15 under par and 27 under for the tournament, 11 strokes ahead of Malaysia with 36 holes to play.

“We said this week that we would just go out and have fun and let the rest take care of itself,” Couples said. “In the back of our minds, we are aware that to win for a third straight time would be outstanding.”

The Zimbabwe team of Mark McNulty and Tony Johnstone, second at the start of the day, could not sustain an early charge. Zimbabwe finished the round at five-under and 14-under for the tournament.

*

Jim Albus birdied the final hole to gain a share of the second-round lead in rain, wind and cold at the Senior Tour Championship at Myrtle Beach, S.C. Albus was tied with Rocky Thompson at 135 at the halfway point of the season-ending tournament.

Albus, with a 71, and Thompson, with a 70, were two of the three players in the field of 28 to break par 72 on the Dunes Club course that yielded sub-par scores to 15 in the opening round.