INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — K.J. Choi overcame the nerves of playing in his first LG Skins Game by using a precise short game and key putts to take the first-day lead in the 26th annual event yesterday.

Choi rolled in a 3-foot birdie putt worth $75,000 on the third hole, and earned $75,000.

That gave him the lead over Phil Mickelson, who earned $25,000 with a spectacular eagle-3 on the fourth hole. Two-time defending champion Stephen Ames and Rocco Mediate, playing in his first Skins Game, were shut out on the first nine holes.

With the foursome halving the final five holes of the front nine, $900,000 of the event's $1 million purse is still alive for today's final nine holes at the Celebrity Course at Indian Wells Golf Resort.

"Everybody here is a good player, good games and good short-game players," Choi said. "I was just really focused on 100 yards and inside."

ELSEWHERE

Australian Masters: Robert Allenby holed a 3-wood shot for a double eagle-3 on the par-5 seventh en route to a 5-under 67 yesterday to tie playing partner Michael Sim (68) at 10-under 206 for the third-round lead in the Australian Masters at Melbourne, Australia.

Ashley Hall (68) was two strokes back at 208, and Rod Pampling (70), Anthony Summers (71) and Steve Webster (70) are 209 at the Huntingdale course.

World Cup of Golf: Brendan Jones made a 4-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to cap a best-ball, 9-under 63 with partner Richard Green, giving Australia a share of the lead with Spain after the third round of the World Cup of Golf at Shenzhen, China.

Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal settled for a 67. Jimenez missed a 6-foot putt for birdie on the final hole, which would have given Spain the outright lead. Both teams were 22-under 194.

Lexus Cup: Annika Sorenstam chipped in for eagle on the par-5 18th hole to give herself and Suzann Pettersen a 1-up victory over Inbee Park and Eun Hee Ji yesterday in the Lexus Cup at Singapore.

With the comeback victory in the opening best-ball match, Sorenstam and Pettersen helped the International team match Asia with six points entering the closing 12 singles matches today at Singapore Island Country Club.