Tiger Woods will defend his Dunlop Phoenix title in November, tournament organizers announced Thursday. Woods will be attempting to win Japan's richest golf tournament for the third straight year, tying Jumbo Ozaki, who won it three years in a row from 1994-96. It will be Woods' fourth appearance at the Dunlop Phoenix.

At last year's tournament, Woods won the fourth hole of a playoff with Kaname Yokoo to claim the title.

The $1.7 million Dunlop Phoenix will be held Nov. 16-19 at the Phoenix Country Club in Miyazaki.

Murota takes lead

KASAMA, Ibaraki Pref. (Kyodo) Veteran Kiyoshi Murota fired a 5-under-par 65 to take the lead after the first round of the Japan Golf Tour Championship on Thursday.

The 50-year-old Murota made eight birdies with a bogey and a double-bogey for a two-shot lead over Toru Taniguchi and Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima at Shishido Hills Country Club.

Taniguchi ran in five birdies against two bogeys, while 51-year-old Nakajima matched the 2002 money title winner with a 67 after making four birdies and a bogey.

Another stroke back alone in fourth was Ippei Sadanobu, followed by Tetsuji Hiratsuka, Taiwan's Lin Keng-Chi, Masaya Tomida and Satoru Hirota in a share of fifth on 69s.

Shingo Katayama, who is gunning for his third consecutive money title, shot an even-par 70 and was in a logjam of golfers tied for ninth, while defending champion Kazuhiko Hosokawa struggled to a 74.