Steve Stricker put the field on notice with a morning-round of 65 on Friday, but Dustin Johnson electrified the crowd with an ace at the Northern Trust Open.
The pair are tied at 10-under par after play was called at 5:02 local time due to darkness and wet conditions with 41 players still on the course. The second round will conclude Saturday 7:30 a.m. PST with Johnson on the par-five 17th.
Weather isn’t expected to improve, though, as rain is forecast at 40 percent Saturday morning, increasing to a 70 percent chance by the afternoon.
“It was pretty miserable out there today. It never really let up,” Stricker said. “Conditions probably even got a little worse as the day went on.”
Playing on a soggy afternoon at Riviera Country Club, Johnson opened with birdies at the first and fourth holes before reaching the par-three 6th. The first-round leader hit eight-iron on the 152-yard hole and watched his shot hit beyond the pin and spin back into the cup.
No. 6 is one of the course’s signature holes with a bunker in the middle of the green.
Stricker also had a hot start to Thursday’s round, when he opened with an eagle and a birdie but he was unable to sustain the pace. On Friday, Stricker continued to score and rolled in seven birdies on the day that included a 22-foot chip at the par-four 18th. He shot 66.
“I chipped in on 18 for birdie. So a lot of good things happened for me today,” said Stricker, who started the day at the 10th. “I made that turn, chipping in at 18 and birdieing No. 1 and then making birdie at four, some of the toughest holes on the course, and I’m making birdies. You know, you try to run with it, and you’re like stealing shots when stuff like that happens.”
Phil Mickelson played himself back into contention with a 66, though he remains six strokes off the pace. The defending champion birdied three of his first five holes to start his morning round and then carded another four birdies on his second nine in a round he began at the 10th tee.
Like Stricker, Mickelson started well in his first round but lost it a bit in the later holes. For Mickelson, it was a balky putter as he bogeyed three of the last four. Mickelson’s game was considerably tighter Friday with seven birdies and just two bogeys.
“I felt like I wasn’t far off after yesterday’s round, even though the score didn’t reflect it,” Mickelson said. “I had a good conversation with Butch (Harmon) and Dave Stockton last night, and I think it settled in today. I was able to make the last adjustment and it felt great. I hit the ball much better and putted much better.”
Andres Romero, who did not complete his second round, is alone in third at seven-under while Kevin Stadler, Justin Rose and Tim Wilkinson are tied in fourth at six-under par. Anthony Kim fired a 66 to improve 48 slots on the board and is tied with three other players at five-under.
It was the season-debut for Kim, who was winless in 2009.
“I’m healthy, and what I did last year was so disappointing,” Kim said. “Really it affected my confidence, and I think I want a positive attitude, get out here and work as hard as I can. I’m going to win golf tournaments, it’s just a matter if I get a couple breaks to go my way.”
David Duval, playing his second event of the season, enjoyed a first-round 68 but he was unable to sustain the effort Friday when six bogeys got the better of two birdies on his round. Duval’s 75 left him one-over for the tournament and will likely miss the cut.
Rocco Mediate and Chris Couch, who opened with first rounds of 75 and 74 respectively, both withdrew.
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The blog is fine. However,I prefer to have the actual scores for the tournaments which no longer appear on your home page. Has a decision been made not to include these anyone?