NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) As a player, Tiger Woods wasn't all that happy with his game Wednesday in the Hero World Challenge. As the Presidents Cup captain, he had reason to be pleased.

U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland and Patrick Reed, who will be part of the U.S. team next week at Royal Melbourne, each managed a tough wind in the Bahamas to post a 6-under 66 and share the lead after the opening round of a tournament that felt more like a Presidents Cup tune-up.

Woods used two of his four captain's picks on Woodland and Reed.

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SYDNEY (AP) World No. 1-ranked amateur Takumi Kanaya birdied his final two holes Thursday for a 6-under 65 and a tie for the first-round lead with fellow Asian amateur Chun An-you of Taiwan.

Playing the back nine at The Australian Golf Course to open his round, the Japanese player had five birdies. He bogeyed the par-4 third hole before making birdie on the eighth and ninth holes. Read More...

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) Tiger Woods is defending Phil Mickelson and other top players who have signed up for the second edition of the Saudi International.

The European Tour, and the players who took part, came under scrutiny last year for staging an event in Saudi Arabia because of its human rights record, especially with the tournament taking place three months after the killing of journalist Jamal Kashoggi. Read More...

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) Tiger Woods meant it as a joke.

And it was accompanied by laughter. Read More...

SYDNEY (AP) Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els and other players at this week’s Australian Open could have another course hazard to contend with: smoke from nearby bushfires.

A temperature inversion which formed over Sydney on Monday night trapped smoke in the region on Tuesday and caused considerable haze during a practice round. Golf Australia said it plans to increase on-site medical staff if the fire-driven smog disrupts the tournament. Read More...

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) Seven tournaments from the six largest tours over the next three weeks could shape the field for the Masters, and perhaps pave the way for the largest gathering at Augusta National in more than 50 years.

Augusta National invites the top 50 from the final world ranking of the year, and then the top 50 one week before the Masters. Read More...

MALELANE, South Africa (AP) Pablo Larrazábal won the European Tour’s season-opening Alfred Dunhill Championship on Sunday after losing a three-shot overnight lead and then making three birdies on his last four holes for a dramatic one-stroke victory.

Larrazábal birdied the par-5 No. 18 as the Spaniard finished 8 under overall and just ahead of Sweden’s Joel Sjöholm. Read More...