Golf: Sabbatini overcomes wind while creating his own

The wind was strong enough to knock branches from palm trees and keep Tiger Woods without a birdie on his card for the first time in four years. It really got blustery when Rory Sabbatini completed a 5-under-par 67 Thursday to share the early lead with Phil Mickelson at The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Sabbatini, of South Africa, is not short on confidence, even after calling out Woods last week and losing to him.

“I think (Woods is) more beatable than ever,” Sabbatini said.

In a grueling start on the refurbished TPC Sawgrass, where gusts reached 39 mph, Woods wasn’t much of a threat to anyone.

He had only four good looks at birdie, three-putted three times and had to save par from 90 feet behind the green on his final hole for a 3-over 75, matching his highest score at The Players.

LPGA

Sarah Lee tied the course record with a 63 in the first round of the Michelob Ultra Open at the River Course at Kingsmill in Williamsburg, Va.

Mi Hyun Kim, fresh off a win last week, is one shot back.

Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum fired a 71 and Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., carded a 73.