PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Alex Cejka served up more proof yesterday that The Players Championship is full of surprises, not only on the TPC Sawgrass but on the leaderboard.

A week after he needed an epidural to restore feeling in his right arm, Cejka ran off six birdies in his first 11 holes en route to a 5-under 67 for a 133 total and a two-shot lead over Ian Poulter going into a weekend full of possibilities.

Neither of the top two players have ever won on the PGA Tour, and only one player in the 35-year history of this event has ever made this his first PGA Tour victory. A group of six four shots behind included Masters champion Angel Cabrera (65), former PGA champion David Toms (70) and Jason Dufner (70), an alternate when he showed up Monday who earned a tee time through someone else's misfortune.

Tiger Woods did his best to get back into the hunt, carding a 69 for a 140 total.

Hawai'i's Parker McLachlin (74), a Punahou alum, and Castle High grad Dean Wilson (72) both missed the cut of 144 with 149 totals.

OCHOA LEADS; WIE EIGHT SHOTS BACK

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Lorena Ochoa fired a 6-under 65 to take a three-stroke lead in the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill.

Coming off a wire-to-wire victory two weeks ago in her native Mexico, the top-ranked Ochoa had a 13-under 129 total.

Cristie Kerr, the 2005 winner, and Song-Hee Kim matched the course record with 63s to join In-Kyung Kim (64) at 132. Hawai'i's Michelle Wie, a Punahou alum, was at 67—137.

SKINS GAME POSTPONED

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — The Skins Game, a Thanksgiving weekend tradition in golf for nearly three decades, has been postponed this year because of the economic downturn. Organizers said yesterday they plan to resume the event in 2010.