Dustin Johnson, Steve Stricker share lead in rainy PGA Tour event
LOS ANGELES — Dustin Johnson made a hole-in-one and Steve Stricker had seven birdies to brighten an otherwise dreary day at rainy Riviera Country Club and finish atop the leaderboard Friday at the Northern Trust Open.
Johnson’s 8-iron from 152 yards landed between the pin and the famous bunker in the middle of the green at No. 6, spinning back into the cup for an ace that put him in the lead for most of the afternoon. He had two holes left when play was halted by darkness.
Stricker, playing in a morning rain that never relented, chipped in for a birdie on the 18th and nearly made an ace on No. 4 when his hybrid from 230 yards lipped out. He shot a 6-under 65 and had the clubhouse lead.
“I’m very happy to be done with the round, to tell you the truth,” said Stricker, who was at 10-under 132. “It was pretty miserable out there today.”
Johnson also was at 10 under and was to return Saturday to complete his round.
PGA Tour rookie Alex Prugh (69), a former Washington Husky from Spokane, was tied for 21st place at 2-under 140. Prugh is seeking his third consecutive top-five finish.
Seattle native Fred Couples (72) was tied for 29th place.
Ryan Moore (70-74 — 144) of Puyallup had to wait until Saturday to learn whether he will make the cut. According to the PGA Tour Web site, players with scores of 144 and higher are projected to miss the cut.
Johnson and Stricker were three shots clear of Andres Romero, who had three holes remaining. Forty-one players did not finish the second round.
Phil Mickelson, trying to become the first player to win three consecutive years at Riviera, had a 66 and was tied for 11th at 4 under. Mickelson started the day in a tie for 83rd place.
Wet conditions made the performances of Johnson and Stricker more remarkable.
“Dustin Johnson is 11 under,” Paul Goydos said in amazement as he walked off the 11th tee. “That’s like being 47 under through three rounds at the (Bob) Hope.”
Ahead of him was Stephen Ames, bundled in rain gear and making light of the gloomy conditions.
“I don’t play golf for money. I play golf for fun,” said Ames, smiling. “And this is not fun.”
Johnson, who opened with a 64 for a one-shot lead, caught the brunt of the weather. Temperatures dipped into the 50s, and with the soaked conditions, some players couldn’t carry their tee shots much more than 225 yards.
“I don’t like it, but do I mind playing in it? No,” Johnson said. “Everyone has got to play in it. Hitting it a long way helps, too, because the course is by far the longest I’ve ever seen this course play.”
The forecast was for more rain Saturday.
“It’s tough to make a regular swing,” Stricker said. “You’ve got a lot of clothes on, you’re wet. It’s just not as easy swinging on a day like today compared to a 70-degree, sunny day.”
Other tournaments
• Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead in the Dubai Desert Classic. He had an 8-under 136 total.
England’s Lee Westwood (65), Wales’ Stephen Dodd (69) and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez (67) were tied for second.
• Chris Kirk shot a 7-under 65 in the Moonah Classic for a share of the third-round lead with fellow American Jim Herman (75) in Fingal, Australia. The tournament is sanctioned by the Nationwide and Australasia tours. The leaders were at 9-under 207.
Jess Daley (76), a graduate of Kentwood High School, was tied for 49th at 218. Kyle Stanley (73-73 — 146) of Gig Harbor missed the cut by one shot.
