PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.—Hot blasts of wind on a diabolical course made The Players Championship tough enough to turn someone’s hair gray. Not that the leaders needed any help with that Friday.

Kenny Perry, who first showed up at Sawgrass 20 years ago, kept his wits and his patience in 35 mph gusts and made only one bogey in a solid round of 2-under 70 that gave him a one-shot lead at 6 under going into the weekend.

He will be paired with Bernhard Langer, who already has won twice this year—on the Champions Tour.

The two-time Masters champion and former Ryder Cup captain managed to produce a 67 and entertain hopes of winning against kids who weren’t even born when he won his first Masters.

Paul Goydos, 43, also was one shot behind after a 71.

Crashing the party was Sergio Garcia, the 28-year-old Spaniard whose driving was as spectacular as his putting was atrocious. Garcia hit all 14 fairways, missed only three greens and took 33 putts on his way to a 73.



LPGA Tour

WILLIAMSBURG, Va.—Annika Sorenstam followed an opening 64 with a second-round 66 at the Michelob Ultra Open to take a three-stoke lead over Lorena Ochoa and Jeong Jang.

The day wasn’t as good for Michelle Wie. Playing in her first event in 2 1/2 months, the Stanford freshman followed a 75 with a 71 and missed the cut by four strokes.

Ochoa, who has won half of the first 10 events so far this season, upped the ante when she rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole, No. 10, celebrating with a fist pump. But Sorenstam was better, again going bogey-free.