Englishman Matt Ford and Irishman Kevin Phelan shared the Africa Open first-round lead on 67 Thursday after taming blustery East London Golf Club conditions. Phelan, joint second in the Joburg Open last weekend, collected six birdies over the 6,108-metre (6,679-yard) layout with his sole blemish a bogey five on 11. Ford put unspectacular Joburg Open form -- a share of 43rd spot -- behind him to garner five birdies and did not drop a shot in the Indian Ocean town. Phelan, ranked 368 in the world, and Ford, 397 places further back, are both chasing a first European Tour triumph in this co-sanctioned event with the Sunshine Tour.

Former world number ones Park Inbee and Tseng Ya-ni outshone top-ranked Lydia Ko, 17, as they seized the joint lead on day one of the HSBC Women's Champions on Thursday. Teenage sensation Ko blamed jetlag and fatigue as she carded four-under-par 68 to lie two shots off Park and Tseng's 66 at a sun-baked Sentosa Golf Course. She ended the day tied at the top of the leaderboard with Taiwan's Tseng, who reigned as world number one for almost two years between 2011 and 2013 but is now ranked 67th. Ko started strongly but she looked to be struggling in temperatures which reached 35 degrees C (95 F), and also blamed jetlag after flying in from New Zealand.

By John O'Brien SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Yani Tseng had the golfing world at her feet during a glorious five-year spell from 2008 that saw the Taiwanese pick up five major victories and top the world rankings for 109 consecutive weeks. Following her 15th and final LPGA Tour victory in March 2012, Tseng began to second-guess herself on the course, her form disappeared along with the ever-present smile and the barren run saw her slip to 90th in the world just two weeks ago. On Thursday, Tseng was brilliant in the first round of the HSBC Women's Champions event in Singapore, her six-under 66 earning her a tie for first place alongside South Korea's Park and two strokes clear of Ko. "Oh, it's fun... it's so much fun," Tseng told reporters of her resurgence.

By John O'Brien SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Lydia Ko's meteoric rise to the top of women's golf has shown little sign of slowing down but the New Zealand teen was forced to take a back seat to a pair of former number ones at the HSBC Women's Champions on Thursday. The 17-year-old phenomenon arrived in Singapore fresh from her Australian and New Zealand Open victories and an opening round four-under 68 at the testing Serapong Course put her well in contention for a hat-trick just two shots off the lead. A little bit jet-lagged because of the long flight but I've been trying to pace myself, go nine holes and do the least amount of practice," Ko told reporters before turning her attention to the searing Singapore temperatures. "I think just this week, the heat is definitely going to get to me, so I'm just going to try and cool down." Ko's predecessor at the top of the rankings Park In-bee made the most of cooler early conditions to fire a bogey-free six-under 66 to claim a tie for first place along with Taiwan's Yani Tseng, who is showing glimpses of a return to form after a two-year slump.

Russell Westbrook finished with 49 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists and became the first player since Michael Jordan with four straight triple doubles as Oklahoma City beat Philadelphia 123-118 in overtime. Westbrook played with a clear plastic face mask in his return after missing the last Thunder game with a facial fracture that required surgery. "It is definitely a blessing," Westbrook said. Westbrook recorded his 10th assist on D.J. Augustin's three pointer, which came just under two minutes into overtime and gave the Thunder the lead for good.

Disgraced drugs cheat Alex Rodriguez was greeted with a mixture of cheers and boos as he hit a single in his first exhibition game at-bat since returning from a performance-enhancing scandal. The New York Yankees slugger hit a two-strike single to left field Wednesday in a spring training plate appearance. He also walked and hit into an inning-ending play in the Yankees' 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. "I am just feeling really good that I get to play the game I love," said the 39-year-old Rodriguez.