SUN CITY, South Africa - Annika Sorenstam and teammate Liselotte Neumann had four birdies each Friday, and Sweden took a share of the lead at the Women's World Cup after the better-ball round.
The Swedes shot 7-under-par 65 on the 6,385-yard Gary Player Country Club to share the lead with South Korea, which got four birdies from Meena Lee and three from Bo Bae Song.
Taiwan, in third place at 5-under, got two birdies from Amy Hung and three from Yu-Ping Lin. Natalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer of the United States failed to get a birdie on the back nine but still finished in fourth after 68.
"We hated kikuyu grass before, and we still do," Gulbis said of the rough.
Sorenstam went into the rough with her first drive and discovered how hard it is to get out.
"I had 128 yards to the front of the green, which is normally a pitching wedge," Sorenstam said. "I used an 8-iron and a sand wedge to get on the green."Sorenstam, like many of the other players, found it tough to get back into tournament play after the holiday break.
"My front 9 was not very pretty," Sorenstam said. "I hit some great iron shots, but my tee shots were not that great."
Gulbis and Creamer struggled on the back nine.
"We had tons of birdie opportunities between 15 and 25 feet, and you have to make them if you want to score well," Gulbis said.
The format switches to alternate play today.
ABU DHABI CHAMPIONSHIP: In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Charl Schwartzel, of South Africa, shot 6-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead in the second round.
Schwartzel, at 9-under 135, leads Soren Hansen, of Denmark, and Ricardo Gonzalez, of Argentina. Hansen also shot 66, while Thongchai Jaidee carded 69, putting him two shots off the pace in fourth place.
Seven players were three behind, including Chris DiMarco and No. 2-ranked Vijay Singh. DiMarco had 67 and Singh came in with 70.
PAKISTAN OPEN: In Karachi, Pakistan, Chris Rodgers, of Wales, shot a bogey-free second round to share the lead with Mark Mouland of England in the $200,000 event.
Rodgers shot 8-under-par 64 for a two-day total of 11-under 133, while Mouland had a second-round 65 .
Amandeep Johl, of India, was third at 135 after a round of 67.
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