Golf: Matthew nine off the pace as Ochoa slumps to a 79

NORTH Berwick's Catriona Matthew is nine shots off the lead at the halfway stage in the HSBC Women's Champions event in Singapore.

Lying in a tie for 25th after an opening 73, the Ricoh Women's British Open champion had five bogeys in a three-over-par 75 today as she dropped down to joint 45th.

Just ahead of the Scot is world No.1 Lorena Ochoa, who shared the lead after an opening 68 but had a rare off day as she slumped to a 79 in her second round.

South Korea's Song Hee-Kim and American Angela Stanford share the lead on five-under-par, with Julie Inkster and Ai Miyazato, winner of last week's season-opening LPGA Tour event in Thailand, both in a group sitting a shot behind.

In the United States, Camilo Villegas shot a tournament record-equalling nine-under-par 62 to take the first-round lead at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The 28-year-old Colombian made the most of calm morning conditions to card his lowest ever round on the PGA Tour and lead nearest rival Matt Every by a stroke.

Villegas was flawless as he followed three birdies on the front nine with six more after the turn, including a chip-in birdie on the last to continue his good form after finishing third at last week's WGC-Accenture Match Play.

Englishman Justin Rose was part of a group of five players including Mark Wilson, Ryuji Imada, Rickie Fowler and Pat Perez tied for third three shots off the pace.

Rose is still searching for his first PGA Tour victory and carded eight birdies, but blemished his round with bogeys on the first and last.

Last week's WGC-Accenture Match Play champion Ian Poulter endured a difficult day as he finished with a one-over- par 72.

Poulter, who rose to the world No.5 ranking following his win last week, had at one staged dropped to three over as he struggled in the trickier afternoon conditions before birdies at 15 and 17 improved his hopes of making the cut tomorrow.

The day, however, belonged to Villegas who put his good recent form down to a more relaxed approach.

"The way I'm approaching my golf is just, again, have fun," he said. "Just go out there and I've got nothing to lose. You go, you hit a putt, if it goes in, great; if it doesn't, you just give a little smile and go to the next one.

"It seemed to work last week. I obviously played good today, and we'll continue that good attitude and see what happens."

Scotland's Martin Laird shot a two-under-par 69 to sit just inside the top 50 after the opening round.