KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawai'i — With a slim lead on a defenseless course, Brad Bryant won't dare look in the rearview mirror in the Champions Tour's season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship.

"You just keep the pedal to the metal and hope the transmission don't blow," said Bryant, who shot a 7-under-par 65 yesterday to take a one-shot lead over Bernhard Langer after two rounds in the winners-only event at the Hualalai Golf Club.

Bryant, who birdied nine holes in the opening round, set the pace early by birdieing six of his first 10 holes and capped his round with a 10-foot birdie putt on 18 for a 15-under 129 total.

The big-hitting Texan is seeking his first victory since the 2007 U.S. Senior Open, where he made up five strokes in the final round and overtook Tom Watson in the second-largest comeback in Open history. Bryant will be the hunted today.

Langer, the player and rookie of the year, made his move on the back nine, again, birdieing four of the final six holes for a 66. He shaved the hole on several putts before they eventually started falling, just as he did Friday in a back-nine 29.

"I played every bit as yesterday, maybe even better, but just didn't quite as much out of the round because I had four or five lipouts," said Langer, coming off a three-win season when he was the lone player to break $2 million in earnings.

Jay Haas, the 2007 player of the year, was third at 13 under after a 66.

Hale Irwin, at 63 trying to become the oldest winner in the tour's 30-year history, had a 67 to join Jeff Sluman at 12 under, a stroke ahead of Andy Bean (66).

Bryant was in control most of the day and in a good spot heading into the final round. In the previous 25 tournaments, the player who as led or tied for the lead after Saturday has won 16 times.

The 54-year-old Bryant is coming off his first winless season in three years, but broke the $1 million mark for the third straight season with seven top-10 finishes including a third-place finish in the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

BOB HOPE CLASSIC

STRICKER SHOOTS AHEAD

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Steve Stricker shot a 10-under 62 yesterday to overtake Pat Perez and rewrite a couple of PGA Tour records as he went to 33 under through four rounds of the birdie-fest known as the Bob Hope Classic.

Eight shots behind Perez after 36 holes, Stricker shot 61 during the third round to move into contention, and his sparkling play on the fourth day gave him a 255 total and three-shot lead over Perez, who shot a 67—258.

Stricker reached 33-under 255, to better the tour's 72-hole mark of 31 under set by Ernie Els in winning the 2003 Mercedes Classic.

"I've done a lot of good things. I haven't made too many mistakes. And I've been trying to make as many birdies as I can," Stricker said. "Fortunately, I have been."

Stricker's 61-62 also was a tour low for consecutive rounds.

Hawai'i's Dean Wilson, a Castle High alum, shot a 65 for 269 and was tied for 39th place.

QATAR MASTERS

SPAIN'S QUIROS IN LEAD

DOHA, Qatar — Alvaro Quiros of Spain had eight birdies for an 8-under 64 yesterday for a one-stroke lead over Louis Oosthuizen after the third round of the Qatar Masters.

Quiros is at 16-under 200 at Doha Golf Course. Oosthuizen of South Africa, who led by three strokes following the second round, was second after a 69. Maarten Lafeber of the Netherlands (66) and Henrik Stenson of Sweden (66) were at 204.

"I have been telling people that I am not just a long hitter," Quiros said. "It has been a lucky week for me. I could see this score coming. I can't even remember when was the last time I won."