Sabbatini’s four-shot lead remains intact

Rory Sabbatini made a 5-foot birdie on the 18th hole Saturday that allowed him to finish the day the same way he started – with a four-shot lead in the Nissan Open in Los Angeles and in total command of his game.

That was about the only thing that went according to plan.

A forecast for rain gave way to brilliant skies over Riviera, allowing for the best scoring of the week. Despite making the cut on the number, Tiger Woods was nowhere to be found. He withdrew with the flu, the first time in his pro career he has left in the middle of the tournament for health reasons.

Fred Couples, a two-time winner of the Nissan Open, overcame his massive head cold with a 31 on the back nine to shoot 65, leaving him in the last group with a chance to rekindle some of his past glory on the course off Sunset Boulevard.

“If I can play a really good round, I can catch Rory,” Couples said. “If he plays well, we’re all done.”

Sabbatini shot a 67 and was at 14-under-par 199. Couples was tied with Craig Barlow, who shot 67.

Champions Tour

Loren Roberts shot a 66 to grab a share of the lead after two rounds of The ACE Group Classic in Naples, Fla., as he attempts to win three straight tournaments on the Champions Tour.

Roberts, Don Pooley and Brad Bryant are tied at 11-under 133, one ahead of Rick Karbowski.

LPGA

Joo Mi Kim sank a 2-foot birdie putt on the second sudden-death playoff hole, defeating fellow South Korean Soo Young Moon in the SBS Open in Kahuku, Hawaii.

Kim shot a final round 71 to earn her first LPGA Tour victory and finished with a 10-under 206.

Rathdrum’s Tracy Hanson carded a final-round 72 to finish tied for 44th place with a 216 total, while Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., tied for 71st after a 75 left her at 220.