Baird lands 1-shot lead

Briny Baird really wanted to go fishing Monday. That's his usual routine at the Zurich Classic, but bad weather kept him off the water.

Now good golf will keep him on dry land this weekend.

Baird shot a 3-under 69 on Friday in the second round to take a 1-stroke lead over Peter Lonard (70) and Jay Williamson (69) at the TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La.

"It didn't feel quite as good as probably the scorecard will make out," Baird said. "I didn't play as well today. My swing felt a little loose at times, but to get in with a 3 under, I was very pleased."

Baird birdied the final two holes. Good enough to keep him on the golf course this weekend rather than in a boat.

"I screwed that up," Baird joked.

Bubba Watson, playing alongside Steve Elkington and Shigeki Maruyama, blamed Elkington for making noise while he was teeing off. The incident happened on the 10th tee and the trio left the course after the round without shaking hands.

"I heard some movement, and who knows what it was," Watson said. "I was just over the ball, and just trying to make the cut and trying to play better and not getting the right breaks. I was already mad for the day, and I just took it out on them, and I shouldn't have."

Tournament director Arvin Ginn said the incident was resolved quickly at the scoring area.

"In the heat of the battle these players, they're very high-keyed at this point in time, and nobody can say it any better than Bubba said it a little while ago," Ginn said. "He gave a total apology to the media, total apology to the tournament, to the players, to anyone that might have seen or heard any part of it."

Watson said he felt he and Elkington settled the matter.

"We hugged it out," Watson said. "Everything is good. He's not mad. He's looking at me like a son basically because I'm a lot younger than him. He just took me aside and said, 'Be stronger in what you're doing and make sure you don't do that.' "

Watson shot a 69 to finish at 2-under 142. Elkington (71) was in a group of players tied for sixth at 5 under.

Ginn Championship: Lonnie Nielsen, a career club professional who had a mediocre PGA Tour career, birdied six of his last 10 holes for a 6-under 66 and 1-stroke lead at the Ginn Championship in Palm Coast, Fla. Bernhard Langer and Fred Funk opened with 67s on the Ocean Hammock Golf Club course, and David Edwards and Gene E. Jones had 68s in the Champions Tour's deepest field this season.

Former Masters champion Craig Stadler was among those at 69, and defending champion Keith Fergus and Tom Watson were at 70. Ian Woosnam struggled in his Champions Tour debut, making 2 double bogeys in a 78.

Andalucia Open: Peter Hedblom of Sweden and Matthew Millar of Australia shared the lead by 1 stroke after Friday's second round of the Andalucia Open in Puerto Banus, Spain. Hedblom shot an 8-under 67 and Millar a 69 to total 8-under 136 at Aloha Golf Club.

Robert Dinwiddie of England (65), Thomas Levet of France (68) and David Lynn of England (67) were tied for third at 137. Defending champion Lee Westwood (73) was one of seven golfers another shot back at 138.

Jose Maria Olazabal (72) made the cut on his return to the sport after a nine-month absence because of back problems.