Champions leader has it figured out

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SONOMA — A week ago Phil Blackmar wasn't sure he wanted to keep playing competitive golf. Now he's trying to win for the second straight week. Four days after his first Champions Tour win, Blackmar shot a 6-under 66 Thursday to share the first-round lead with Jeff Sluman in the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. "Somebody jumped in my body last week ... I guess he's still there," said Blackmar, who had six birdies in a bogey-free round at Sonoma Golf Club. "I hope he stays there for another three days. I don't know who he is."

The 6-foot-7 Blackmar was in 57th place on the money list and needed a top-five finish in San Antonio to avoid having to go to qualifying school. He didn't like that prospect and was seriously considering retiring.

Sluman birdied three of his first four holes on the back nine, eagled the par-5 16th then birdied 17 to move into a tie with Blackmar. Eduardo Romero, the Toshiba Classic winner in March, was a stroke back at 67, and John Cook and Brad Bryant opened with 68s. ... At Casares, Spain, Anthony Kim won two round-round robin matches in the Volvo World Match Play Championship, while fourth-ranked Paul Casey lost twice to drop out of contention for a semifinal spot. Kim topped the Seve Ballesteros Group with four points after beating Casey and Retief Goosen, both 3 and 2. Scott Strange beat Casey, returning from a rib injury, 1-up. ... At Port St. Lucie, Fla., Darrell Kestner, Chris Starkjohann and Mickey Yokoi shot 6-under 66s to share the first-round lead in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship.

Soccer

D.C. United president Kevin Payne was fined $5,000 by Major League Soccer, then apologized for criticizing the league and three of its teams. The MLS said Payne was punished for posting his comments on The Washington Post's Web site, criticizing the conservative play of Colorado, New England and Real Salt Lake. ... D.C. United goalie Josh Wicks is expected to be sidelined for four to six months after having surgery on his left shoulder. He was hurt in a game with the San Jose Earthquakes. ... Former U.S. captain Mia Hamm, a two-time world player of the year, has been appointed international ambassador for the 2011 women's World Cup in Germany.