PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Two weeks after turning 50, former Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman looked like his old self yesterday in the Transitions Championship with a 3-under 68 for his first 54-hole lead in more than four years.

Lehman ran off four straight birdies and shot 31 on the back nine at Innisbrook to grab a one-shot lead over Retief Goosen. Lehman will try to become only the seventh player in his 50s to win on the PGA Tour.

"I'm extremely motivated to play good golf," Lehman said. "I don't want to finish my career playing lousy."

Goosen, a two-time U.S. Open champion, kept his composure on firm, crusty greens usually only seen in June. The greens were brown in spots and hard all over, reminding him of Shinnecock Hills in 2004 when he won his second major.

Lehman, who was at 8-under 205, missed five months last year with tendinitis in his elbow and missed the cut in his first four starts this year before a tie for 49th against a weak field in Mexico last month.

Masters champion Trevor Immelman had a 70 and was in the group at 5-under 208 that included Stuart Appleby (71), Jonathan Byrd (71) and Charles Howell III (71).

ELSEWHERE

LPGA Mastercard Classic: Taiwan's Yani Tseng shot a 3-under 69 for a share of the second-round lead with South Korea's Na Yeon Choi in the Mastercard Classic at Huixquilucan, Mexico, with top-ranked Mexican star Lorena Ochoa a stroke back.

Choi had a 73 to match the second-ranked Tseng at 7-under 137 on the BosqueReal Country Club course. Ochoa, the first-round leader after a 65, shot a 73 to drop into a tie for third with Pat Hurst (70) with one round left.

Madeira Islands Open: Estanislao Goya of Argentina shot a 2-under 69 to take a three-stroke lead after three rounds of the European PGA Tour's Madeira Islands Open at Porto Santo, Madeira Islands.

Goya, the only golfer under par in each round, was at 8-under 205. Ireland's Damien McGrane was in second after overcoming two bogeys in the opening five holes to finish with a 70—208. Spain's Carlos Rodiles was a shot behind in third after a 71

SAIL Open: Chapchai Nirat of Thailand made a birdie on the final hole for a 5-under 67 to win the SAIL Open at Gurgaon, India, by 11 shots and set an Asian Tour record by finishing at 32-under-par 256.

Chapchai opened with rounds of 62-62 on the Classic Golf Resort and was never challenged in breaking the Asian Tour record held by Ernie Els, who shot 29-under-par in winning the 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth, Australia.

It is believed to be the lowest 72-hole score to par on any tour in the world. Els set the PGA Tour record with a 31-under-par when he won the 2003 Mercedes Championship by eight shots at Kapalua, which is a par 73.