Mickelson leads HSBC Champions

Phil Mickelson was unwinding from a day of high energy and quick turnarounds, one that took him from a two-shot deficit against Tiger Woods to a two-shot lead over the final eight holes Saturday in the HSBC Champions golf tournament at Shanghai.

In the quiet of the clubhouse dining room, he marveled at how much the crowds have grown in the three years he has been going to Sheshan International. And he could only imagine what it would be like today, when he played in the final group with Woods for the first time in more than four years.

Then he smiled and raised a glass in a mock toast.

"And he's got to give me one shot a side," Mickelson said.

A rivalry that was renewed six weeks ago in Atlanta continued halfway around world in China when Woods stalled with pars, and Mickelson poured in three birdies over his last five holes for a 5-under 67 and a two-shot lead over Woods and Nick Watney in the final World Golf Championship of the year.

"I know we are both looking forward to it," said Mickelson, who was at 14-under 202. "I think it will be a fun day, and we are excited to be playing in the last group here in China."

It will be the first time the world's top two players have been in the final group since their Duel at Doral in 2005, when Woods rallied from a two-shot deficit in the final round to win by one.

Bo Bae Song leads Mizuno

South Korea's Bo Bae Song birdied the final hole for a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke lead in the Mizuno Classic golf tournament at Shima, Japan.

Song had six birdies in a front-nine 30, then had two birdies and bogey on the final nine holes Saturday to reach 11 under at Kintetsu Kashikojima.

Akane Iijima (64) and In-Kyung Kim (65) shared second. Rui Kitada (66) was 9 under in the event sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and Japan LPGA.

Defending champion Jiyai Shin (67) was in a group at 8 under. Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa (69) was 4 under.

Italy leads U.S. in Fed Cup

Alexa Glatch and Melanie Oudin lost in straight sets Saturday to give Italy a 2-0 lead over the United States in the Fed Cup women's tennis final at Reggio Calabria, Italy.

Glatch lost to Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-1, and Francesca Schiavone rallied after a two-hour rain delay to defeat Oudin 7-6 (2), 6-2 on the outdoor red clay court at the Rocco Polimeni club.

"She came out and started playing a lot better and wasn't missing anything when she came back out," Oudin said. "She changed her game a little bit. I did the best I could."

Reverse singles and doubles were scheduled for today in the best-of-five series.

The U.S. has won all nine of its previous meetings with Italy. But the Americans are without Serena and Venus Williams, who opted not to play after meeting in the season-ending tour championships last weekend in Doha, Qatar.

Oudin, who reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open, faces 11th-ranked Pennetta in singles today.

"Fed Cup, you have to go a match at a time," U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez said. "We've seen a lot of comebacks from 2-0 down. It's a new day."

Swiss Indoors: Roger Federer will play Novak Djokovic in today's final in a bid for a fourth straight title in his hometown event at Basel, Switzerland.

Federer defeated childhood friend Marco Chiudinelli 7-6 (7), 6-3 in one semifinal. Earlier, Djokovic saved three match points in rallying to beat Radek Stepanek 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2.

Today, Djokovic will face Federer in the arena where the Swiss great was once a ballboy.

"Obviously, the home crowd will be behind him," Djokovic said.

They've split four matches this season, with Federer winning their last meeting in straight sets in the U.S. Open semifinals.

"I'm ready for a tough match. Novak's played solid tennis during the week," said Federer, who has a 9-4 career record against Djokovic.

Valencia Open: Top-seeded Andy Murray held off fourth-seeded Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 to reach the Valencia Open final against Mikhail Youzhny at Valencia, Spain. Unseeded Youzhny topped second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in an all-Russian semifinal.

Murray, who had a six-week layoff because of an injured wrist, will go for his fifth title of the season.

Ban unlikely for Serena Williams: Top-ranked Serena Williams will most likely receive a "significant" fine but no suspension for her U.S. Open tirade. Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock is expected to give his recommendation to the Grand Slam committee, which probably will announce the sanction Monday or Tuesday.

Saints sign Pressley

The New Orleans Saints have placed defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy on injured reserve with a knee injury and signed former N.C. State defensive tackle DeMario Pressley from the practice squad.

Clancy, a 10th-year player in his third season with the Saints, played in two games and was inactive for five others because of the injury.

Pressley, a second-year lineman, was selected by the Saints in the fifth round of the 2008 draft. The 6-foot-3, 301-pounder spent his rookie season on injured reserve rehabbing a foot injury.

Area football teams advance

The Wilders Grove Wolfpack, the Capital City Steelers and the Cary Chargers saw their Consolidated Football Federation teams advance to next week's second round of the Pop Warner Little Scholars Mid-South Region playoff with victories Saturday.

In a Division II Junior Peewee game, Capital City defeated the Churchland (Va.) Tigers 6-0.

In Division II Midgets, Wilders Grove defeated the Suffolk (Va.) Steelers 6-0.

In Division III Junior Peewee, Wilders Grove defeated the Havelock Rams 18-12.

In Division III Junior Midgets, Cary defeated the New Bern Warriors 31-6.

Other Triangle teams - North Raleigh, Durham and Orange County - were eliminated.

Follow the teams at blogs.newsobserver.com/play.

From CFF news release

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