Creamer takes a two-stroke lead

Paula Creamer matched her career best Thursday with an eight-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead over Lorena Ochoa and two other players after the first round of the Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions at Mobile, Ala.

With the players allowed to lift, clean and place their balls in the fairways because of wet conditions on Magnolia Grove’s Crossings Course, 27 of the 39 players in the winners-only field broke par.

“They gave birdies out there,” said the 20-year-old Creamer, winless this year after winning twice and earning rookie-of-the-year honors last season.

“You can get fooled a lot by the grain of the greens, but I went out there and had fun,” Creamer said.

Gary Christian overcame back spasms, Andrew Buckle rallied with five consecutive birdies and Cliff Kresge made a late eagle to grab shares of the first-round lead in the Nationwide Tour Championship at Richmond, Texas.

Christian, Buckle and Kresge opened with five-under 67s in the season-ending event at the Houstonian. The winner will earn $135,000, and the season money champion will be fully exempt on the 2007 PGA Tour and earn a spot in the Players Championship.

Playing in his first tournament in five weeks, Tiger Woods had a double bogey on his second hole and finished the opening round of the HSBC Champions at Shanghai, China, seven shots behind leader Jyoti Randhawa.

Randhawa shot a 65 to take a one-stroke lead over 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell, Marc Warren and Yang Yong-eun.

Woods and Ernie Els gained approval from Bahamian officials for a luxury resort they’re helping finance along with a group led by a British billionaire.

The $1.3-billion private residential community will include an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Els, Woods said in a statement.

Sergio Garcia shot a four-under 68 and finished two shots behind Ryuichi Oda after the first round of the Taiheiyo Masters at Gotemba, Japan.

BASEBALL

Mets’ Glavine files for free agency

Mets pitcher Tom Glavine filed provisionally for free agency, still uncertain whether he wants to stay in New York or try to go back to the Atlanta Braves.

Glavine has until today to exercise a $7.5-million player option, and the Mets have until Nov. 20 to exercise a $14-million team option. The options carry a $3-million buyout and both are likely to be declined.

San Diego left-hander David Wells also filed. Chicago Cubs right-hander Wade Miller, who had filed Oct. 30, agreed to a one-year contract to remain in Chicago.

Lloyd McClendon will take over as the hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers, who had a .199 batting average during their World Series loss to St. Louis.

MISCELLANY

Mauresmo defeats Hingis, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4

Amelie Mauresmo won’t have the top ranking after Sunday, but she can still retain her WTA Championships title after beating Martina Hingis, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, at Madrid, Spain.

Mauresmo’s victory set up a final Yellow Group match with Justine Henin-Hardenne, who advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Nadia Petrova.

Orlando Salido, who won the International Boxing Federation featherweight title, could be stripped of his title after testing positive for steroids, said Keith Kizer, Nevada Athletic Commission executive director.

Salido, 25, a Mexican citizen who trains in Los Angeles, improved his record to 28-9-2 with the unanimous decision Saturday night over Robert Guerrero. The outcome of the bout could be changed to a no-decision, which would let the IBF declare the title vacant.

Former All-Star pitcher Dwight Gooden was released from a Florida prison after finishing a sentence for violating his probation by using cocaine.

Evander Holyfield, 44, meets Fres Oquendo in a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout tonight at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Azerbaijan upset the United States in five sets in the second round of the women’s world volleyball championships at Osaka, Japan.

The Americans split the first two sets before losing, 25-19, 16-25, 25-22, 25-27, 15-13.

Emily Hughes, the younger sister of 2002 Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes, won the short program at the Cup of China at Nanjing.

Hughes skated cleanly to music from “Carmen” to compile 56.71 points.