A rivalry that was renewed six weeks ago in Atlanta continued halfway around the world in Shanghai, China, when Tiger Woods stalled with pars and Phil 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.

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.

Not to be forgotten is Watney. After a three-putt bogey on the 17th, the 28-year-old sank a 50-foot eagle on the 18th for a 70 to join Woods at 12-under 204.

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

    NASCAR

    Kyle Busch won his fourth consecutive Nationwide Series race, dominating the field at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The win came a day after he won his fifth truck race in his past five starts in the series.

    NHL

    The New Jersey Devils improved to 8-0 on the road, the second-longest road winning streak to start a season behind the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres (10-0), with a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. ... Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward suffered a deep cut in his leg when sliced by a skate in the

    Advertisement
    first period of the visiting Hurricanes' 3-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. ... The host New York Islanders learned before their 6-3 win over the Atlanta Thrashers that defenseman Radek Martinek, 33, will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. ... Detroit Red Wings forward Jason Williams fractured his right fibula in a 5-1 loss at Toronto and could miss two months.

    MLB

    Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge will have surgery to remove a loose body in his right elbow Wednesday. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. also announced that outfielder Raul Ibanez (sports hernia) and reliever Scott Eyre (left elbow) will have surgery Monday.

  • The Minnesota Twins picked up outfielder Michael Cuddyer's $10.5 million option for 2011.

    Men's water polo

    Seven players scored goals and goalie Wil Toppen had six saves as visiting No. 2 Cal (17-4, 4-1) beat No. 9 UC Santa Barbara (10-11, 0-4) 7-4 in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match.

    Tennis

    Top-ranked Serena Williams likely will receive a "significant" fine but no suspension for her U.S. Open tirade in September, International Tennis Federation president Francesco Ricci Bitti said.

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

    Boxing

    David Haye (23-1) won the WBA heavyweight title with a majority decision over 7-foot-2 Russian Nikolai Valuev (50-2) in Nuremberg, Germany.