AKRON, Ohio — Without the world's No. 1 player around, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson brought some star power yesterday to the final World Golf Championship of the year.

Singh twice escaped from the trees on his closing holes at Firestone and renewed his affair with a belly putter on his way to a 4-under 66 at the Bridgestone Invitational, putting his name atop the leaderboard for the first time in more than four months.

He was one shot ahead of Mickelson, who made another great escape at the end of the second round, this time holing a 20-foot par putt to finish off a 66 that put him in the final group with Singh.

Both have three majors — two Masters and a PGA for Mickelson, two PGAs and a Masters for Singh.

"I'm going to go out there and play my heart out and try to shoot as low as I can, and not really be concerned about what Phil does," said Singh, who was at 7-under 133. "He's going to be focused on his game. I just hope we both have a good day."

Sean O'Hair, seeing immediate results from switching to a new swing coach, had a 67 and joined the group at 5-under 135 that included Lee Westwood (65), former Masters champion Zach Johnson (68) and Peter Lonard (66).

Sixteen players were within four shots of the lead.

"It's anybody's ball game," said Hunter Mahan, who had a 66 and was at 3-under 137.

It helps that Tiger Woods isn't at Firestone, particularly since he is a six-time champion on this course and had never finished out of the top five in his 10 appearances.

"To me, him not being here is the difference between 39th and 38th," Lonard said with a laugh.

WOMEN'S BRITISH OPEN

Fudoh, Shin share lead: Yuri Fudoh of Japan and Ji-Yai Shin of South Korea shot 4-under 68s to share a one-stroke lead and equal the halfway record at the Women's British Open at Sunningdale, England.

Fudoh and Shin were at 10-under 134 to tie the record set by Jeong Jang of South Korea, who won three years ago at Royal Birkdale. American Juli Inkster (70) was one shot back, while South Korean Bo Bae Song (68) and American Cristie Kerr (65) were at 136.

Annika Sorenstam, owner of 10 majors and 72 career titles on the LPGA Tour, was 3-over after eighth holes yesterday, but responded with three birdies in a row en route to a 72 and finished at even-par 144 to make the cut in her final major before she quits tournament golf at the end of the year.

U.S. SENIOR OPEN

Funk leads by two: Difficult pin placements and faster, drier greens at The Broadmoor's East Course flustered the field and only five golfers managed to shoot below par, including Fred Funk, whose 1-under 69 gave him the lead at the halfway point of the U.S. Senior Open at Colorado Springs, Colo.

Funk's two-day score of 6-under 134 is two shots ahead of Eduardo Romero (69) and four ahead of Mark McNulty (70), Tom Kite (71) and John Cook (72).

Stealing the show, however, was a black bear that ambled out of the mountains in the morning and crossed the 13th fairway before checking out spectators outside the ropes, then leaving.