Perry shows steadiness while Singh makes move

Kenny Perry is leading the Bay Hill Invitational, thanks to amazing accuracy off the tee that kept him out of the rough on all but two holes during a marathon Saturday.

Vijay Singh is winning the battle for No. 1 in the golf world, thanks to astonishing collapses by Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.

When the third round at Orlando, Fla., was suspended by darkness, Perry was at 9 under par and leading by one shot over Stephen Ames, with Singh and K.J. Choi another shot behind. The final shot from Perry was another drive he blistered down the middle of the 12th fairway, an indication he wanted to keep playing.

Not true.

“I wanted to stop,” Perry said as he mixed nutrients into a bottle of water to help his 44-year-old body recover from 4 a.m. wakeup calls and 29 holes of golf on a difficult course. “I was mentally and physically tired, and I was ready to go. It’s going to be a long day (today).”

It felt like an eternity to Woods and Els, who took turns hitting tee shots out-of-bounds and bumbling their way around Bay Hill – Els in the morning, when he shot himself out of contention with a 77 in the second round; Woods in the afternoon, when he hit one drive onto the range and was nine shots out of the lead when play was halted.

Singh not only can move to No. 1 in the tour rankings, he can win the tournament where his PGA Tour career took root.

Perry took the 36-hole lead, his first on the PGA Tour in nearly two years, with a 4-under 68 in the second round that was played in the morning. He added two quick birdies to keep his name at the top.

Singh didn’t play a single shot until he teed off late in the afternoon. He nearly made an ace on the second hole while firing off three straight birdies to get into contention.

The 42-year-old Fijian, who gave up his No. 1 ranking to Woods two weeks ago, is in prime condition to get it back.

Champions Tour

Rookie Mark Johnson, 50, shot an 8-under 63 to take a three-stroke lead over Keith Fergus after the second round of the Toshiba Senior Classic at Newport Beach, Calif.

Johnson had an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey to reach 12 under. Fergus shot a 66. Tom Jenkins and Wayne Levi were 8 under after 68s.

LPGA Tour

Lorena Ochoa gave up a commanding lead with a double bogey on the 16th hole, finishing with a 1-under 71 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Safeway International at Superstition Mountain, Ariz.

Ochoa stands at 13-under 203. Playing partner Soo-Yun Kang was second after a 70, and defending champion Annika Sorenstam was four strokes back.

Sorenstam shot a 72 in the unusually humid, cool conditions, but lost only one shot to Ochoa.

Michelle Wie, 15, shot 73 and is 10 shots back.

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., carded her second consecutive 73 and is at 217.