Appleby Takes Nelson Lead

Stuart Appleby, without a top 10 since winning the first tournament of the year, birdied his first two holes and kept right on rolling Thursday to a seven-under-par 63 on the TPC at Las Colinas, giving him a one-shot lead over John Daly, Ernie Els and Brett Wetterich in the Byron Nelson Championship at Irving, Texas.

Els showed not much has changed since winning by a career-high 13 shots two weeks ago in Shanghai, playing with Vijay Singh and without a bogey on the TPC course for a 64.

Daly was on the easier Cottonwood Valley course and described his 64 as “mediocre” and “comfortable.” The only glitch was a three-putt bogey that denied him a share of the lead.

Singh, a winner in two of his last three tournaments, rallied for two birdies on the final three holes for a 68.

Tiger Woods had an eagle and a birdie to offset two bogeys on his way to a 69.

Phil Mickelson had 17 pars in a round of 69, and U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen shot 70.

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Laura Davies, a four-time major champion who hasn’t won on the LPGA tour since 2001, shot a six-under 66 to take the first-round lead in the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship at Stockbridge, Ga.

Annika Sorenstam shot a bogey-free 67 and is tied for second with Karrie Webb, the last player other than Sorenstam to be ranked No. 1.

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Woods and Daly will take on Mickelson and Goosen in the “Battle at the Bridges” made-for-TV match July 25 at the Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe.