Pain-free Couples leads Buick

Dr. Snowball might be making house calls next week at Shinnecock Hills if Fred Couples keeps playing like this.

After night and morning acupuncture sessions with Halina Snowball in Greenwich, Conn., the 44-year-old Couples shot a bogey-free, 6-under-par 65 on Friday to take the second-round lead in the Buick Classic in Harrison, N.Y.

“As soon as I left her office yesterday, I didn’t have any pain in my back,” Couples said. “I don’t get it, but I’m going to keep trying it. To me, it’s unbelievable what they can do.”

Coming off a second-place finish last week in the Memorial, Couples birdied the final two holes on the Westchester Country Club course to take a one-stroke lead over Vijay Singh, Fredrik Jacobson and young playing partner Luke Donald.

“I’ve kept the ball in play, which is the key here,” said Couples, who played with acupuncture pins in his ears.

Couples took advantage of Jacobson’s double-bogey 7 on the par-5 ninth – his last hole – to top the leaderboard at 10 under.

Jacobson finished with a 69, Donald had a 66 and Singh followed his opening 63 with a 70.

“I had a lot of half-shots today,” said Singh, the 1993 and 1995 winner. “If you’re between clubs, it’s very hard to get close.”

Tom Byrum eagled the 18th for a 64 – the best round of the day — to finish at 7 under, and Padraig Harrington shot his second straight 68 to join Billy Mayfair, Scott Hend, Tjaart Van der Walt and Cameron Beckman at 6 under.

Masters champion Phil Mickelson (68) and two-time Buick Classic winner Ernie Els (69) were 5 under.

Rain halts LPGA Championship

Jennifer Rosales will legitimately be able to say that she led the McDonald’s LPGA Championship in Wilmington, Del., for at least two days.

Not two playing days, necessarily, but still, two days.

Rosales, who held a one-stroke lead after shooting an opening-round 5-under 66, retained that margin because the second round was rained out. Play will resume this morning. The third and fourth rounds will be played Sunday.