Jim Thorpe was back in his familiar spot atop a Champions Tour leaderboard in wine country on Thursday, taking a one-stroke lead over Tom Kite with a 6-under 66 in the opening round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Thorpe, who won the season-ending tournament in 2003 and owns titles in two additional Northern California events, holed a 70-yard wedge shot for an eagle on the second hole. He rode that momentum to the early lead, with a $2.

Too far down the money list to make the U.S. Tour Championship, too high up to sweat over losing his PGA Tour card, Brian Gay shot a 7-under 64 for a two-shot lead at the Chrysler Championship on Thursday. Ernie Els, who needs a good showing, is five strokes back.

Jose Manual Lara of Spain shot a 5-under 66 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Volvo Masters. Graeme McDowell, Richard Green, and Niclas Fasth were a stroke back. Johan Edfors and former winner Miguel Angel Jimenez shot 68s. Paul Casey, the leading money winner on the European Tour, shot a 5-over 76 to trail by 10 strokes. Casey said he felt ill by the fifth hole, and got a shot for a nauseous stomach at the 11th hole.

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Golfers at the Eisenhower Cup which started on Thursday are subject to random drug testing after their rounds. In line with its October 2004 ruling, the International Golf Federation began applying its anti-doping policy at the 70-nation Cup, the world amateur men's team championship being played at Stellenbosch and De Zalze golf clubs. If a player tests positive, and does not have a therapeutic use exemption, he faces sanctions, and his team result will be recalculated.

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Annika Sorenstam shot a 7-under 65 Thursday to take a two-stroke lead over Namika Omata in the opening round of the Dubai Ladies Masters.

Ernie Els has never missed the season-ending Tour Championship when playing a full schedule. But that streak is in jeopardy this season. The Big Easy needs a strong showing at this week's Chrysler Championship to secure one of 30 spots in next week's finale.

The LPGA European Tour is heading to the Middle East for the first time, and Annika Soremstam will be there to compete for the title. The Dubai Ladies Masters, which starts Thursday at the Emirates Golf Club's Majlis course, is the tour's season-ending event.

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When PGA Tour veteran Paul Azinger tees it up this week at the Chrysler Championship, a lot will be on the line. Azinger, who's about to wrap up his 25th year on Tour, is currently No. 122 on the money list. If he falls to No. 125 or worse after this weekend he would lose his Tour card.

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Stephen Ames had tests on a back injury Monday that will cause him to miss the Chrysler Championship of Tampa and the season-ending Tour Championship, commissioner Tim Finchem said. Ames, who won The Players Championship by six shots for the biggest victory of his career, was supposed to speak at a charity luncheon to announce $2.7 million in proceeds from the PGA Tour's showcase event. Finchem said Ames was home in Calgary going through tests.

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Some big-name players will be playing for some high stakes this weekend at the Chrysler Championship as the top 30 players on the money list qualify for next week's lucrative Tour Championship and the top 125 secure their PGA Tour privileges for next season. Tom LaMarre breaks it all down.

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