Steve Stricker set the early pace with a 65 at Riviera Country Club to move into first place at the Northern Trust Open. Rains suspended play with just over 40 players still on the course, including first round leader Dustin Johnson who is tied with Stricker at 10-under par through 16 holes.
Stricker played the back nine first in the second round and made three birdies and a bogey. He added four birdies on the second nine to take the early lead. Johnson regained the top spot with birdies on the first and fourth holes and added a hole-in-one on the sixth hole. After eight straight pars, Johnson made bogey on the 15th to fall back into a tie with Stricker before play was suspended.
Andres Romero is in third place, three shots behind the leaders, through 15 holes of the second round. Justin Rose and Tim Wilkinson shot 67s to move into a tie for fourth place with Kevin Stadler at six-under par. Anthony Kim is at five-under par after shooting 66 and climbing 48 spots to seventh place, tied with Steve Marino, Ricky Barnes and Ryo Ishikawa.
Moving Day
Look for Phil Mickelson to continue to make some headway in his attempt to become the first to win three straight at Riviera. After a second round 66, Mickelson moved into a tie for 11th place, six shots behind the leaders. Also, tied with Mickelson, Ernie Els and Brandt Snedeker should rebound from their rounds of 70 and 72, respectively, to contend on Sunday.
Top three to watch heading into the weekend – Steve Marino, Anthony Kim and Matt Kuchar. Marino and Kim played well in bad conditions to make huge jumps in the standings and should better themselves to contend on Sunday. Kuchar is this week’s dark horse at two-under par.
Stricker sets pace at Northern Trust Open
Stricker played the back nine first in the second round and made three birdies and a bogey. He added four birdies on the second nine to take the early lead. Johnson regained the top spot with birdies on the first and fourth holes and added a hole-in-one on the sixth hole. After eight straight pars, Johnson made bogey on the 15th to fall back into a tie with Stricker before play was suspended.
Andres Romero is in third place, three shots behind the leaders, through 15 holes of the second round. Justin Rose and Tim Wilkinson shot 67s to move into a tie for fourth place with Kevin Stadler at six-under par. Anthony Kim is at five-under par after shooting 66 and climbing 48 spots to seventh place, tied with Steve Marino, Ricky Barnes and Ryo Ishikawa.
Moving Day
Look for Phil Mickelson to continue to make some headway in his attempt to become the first to win three straight at Riviera. After a second round 66, Mickelson moved into a tie for 11th place, six shots behind the leaders. Also, tied with Mickelson, Ernie Els and Brandt Snedeker should rebound from their rounds of 70 and 72, respectively, to contend on Sunday.
Top three to watch heading into the weekend – Steve Marino, Anthony Kim and Matt Kuchar. Marino and Kim played well in bad conditions to make huge jumps in the standings and should better themselves to contend on Sunday. Kuchar is this week’s dark horse at two-under par.