Woods finishes his season early

Tiger Woods is skipping the Tour Championship next week for the first time in his career, saying he was mentally and physically tired from a hectic stretch through the Ryder Cup.

“I’m confident that this extended break will help me to recharge my batteries for the 2007 season,” Woods said on his Web site Friday.

Masters champion Phil Mickelson previously has said he is done playing for the year. With Stephen Ames out with a back injury, the 27-man field will be the smallest since the Tour Championship began in 1987.

PGA

K.J. Choi took double bogey and called it a good experience. He nearly made an ace on what he called a bad shot. It added up to a 5-under-par 66 that gave him a one-shot lead over Ernie Els at the Chrysler Championship at Palm Harbor, Fla.

LPGA Tour

South Korea’s Joo Mi Kim shot a bogey-free, 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over countrywoman and defending champion Jee Young Lee at the Kolon-Hana Bank Championship in Gyeongju, South Korea.

Champions Tour

Tom Kite eagled the par-4 11th hole for the second straight round and finished with a 4-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over Jay Haas and Jim Thorpe in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Sonoma, Calif.

Dubai Ladies Masters

Annika Sorenstam shot a 4-under 68 and led by five strokes halfway through the Dubai Ladies Masters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The top-ranked Swede was at 11-under 133 after two rounds.

Karrie Webb (68) was at 138.

Sophie Sandolo (71), Trish Johnson (67) and Tania Elosegui Mayor (70) were at 139.

Wright has breast cancer

Mickey Wright, whom many consider to be the greatest female golfer in history, has been diagnosed with breast cancer and was having surgery Friday, The Palm Beach Post reported.