Els Leads; Woods 11 Back

Ernie Els shot a 65 to be at 12-under-par 132 after two rounds of the Johnnie Walker Classic for a three-stroke lead over Alexander Cejka in Phuket, Thailand.

Tiger Woods was 11 shots back at 143.

Although Wendy Ward leads the LPGA Office Depot at West Palm Beach, Fla., she got a harsh reminder that she is no Casey Martin.

Ward was assessed a two-stroke penalty for accepting a ride in a golf cart, changing the 6-under-par 66 she shot in the $600,000 tournament’s second round to a 68.

Ward’s 36-hole total is 137, two strokes ahead of Tina Barrett and Helen Alfreddson. Rathdrum’s Tracy Hanson had a 73 for a 143 total.

Kelly Gibson shot a 5-under-par 66, improving by one stroke on his opening round, to lead the $2.5 million Phoenix Open at 9-under 133.

Pullman’s Kirk Triplett shot 74 for a 144 total.

The United States Golf Association did not offer a special exemption to Jack Nicklaus for the 1998 U.S. Open, ending Nicklaus’ run of consecutive major championships played at 145 with the Masters this April.

Gathering in Tucson, Ariz., for its annual meeting, the USGA gave special exemptions for 1998 to Pat Bradley and Beth Daniel in the Women’s Open and Peter Oosterhuis in the Senior Open.