Leonard Fires 67 to Blow Into First-Round Lead

Fierce winds at the Phoenix Open were an advantage for Justin Leonard, who played half a round in calm conditions and then mastered the elements when they deteriorated.

“You have to play a little more strategically in the wind, and that’s the way I like to play,” Leonard said after shooting a four-under-par 67 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over Paul Azinger at Scottsdale, Ariz. “So I certainly wasn’t upset to see it start blowing.”

Leonard used his accuracy around the greens to offset 25-mph winds and grab the first-round lead in a tournament that he almost won three years ago, when Phil Mickelson beat him in a playoff.

Raucous fans on the TPC of Scottsdale stadium course were silent when Mickelson, a Scottsdale resident, was lining up shots down the stretch in 1996 and made noise for Leonard, and the experience still rankles Leonard.

The group of six at 69 included two other former champions: Bill Glasson (1994) and Lee Janzen (1993).

Because of a one-hour frost delay, 45 of the 132 players were stranded by darkness and must finish the round today.

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Betsy King birdied four of the final five holes to grab a share of the lead after two rounds of the LPGA Office Depot tournament at West Palm Beach, Fla.

King equaled the low round of the day, a six-under 66, to tie first-round co-leader Karrie Webb at 136. Webb finished earlier with 69. Both played the 6,195-yard Heritage course at Ibis Country Club.

Nancy Scranton, who also shot 66 on the Heritage course, former champion Kelly Robbins and Juli Inkster--the other first-round co-leader--were tied for second at 137.

The tournament continues through Saturday, ending a day earlier than most LPGA events to avoid ending in conflict with the Super Bowl.