LOS ANGELES (AP) – Dustin Johnson and Troy Merritt were tied for the lead Friday at the Northern Trust Open. The tricky poa annua greens can make for some guesswork, because it is typically more bumpy than some other grasses on the PGA TOUR.
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After posting an 8-over 79 on Thursday, Jordan Spieth needed to put together the round of the tournament on Friday just to make the cut at the Northern Trust Open. Charl Schwartzel had a double bogey and a triple – the latter when a shot hit him in the hand – yet shot 68 to remain in contention. Padraig Harrington realized during the round he was wearing someone elses right shoe.
But that was before long-hitting Jason Kokrak lapped the field in the afternoon by shooting a 7-under-par 64 – the low round of the day – to grab the lead at 10 under, one shot ahead of his nearest competitor, Chez Reavie (67).
Rory McIlroy, making his first PGA Tour start this year and his debut at Riviera, opened with two quick birdies and added two more on the front nine for a 67.
“It’s been a struggle to learn how to play this golf course”, Kokrak said. Its old school. Its very hard. I just overdrew it when you can’t be left and I overcut it when you can’t be right.
Both men are renowned for their power hitting, which has featured prominently this week high up on the tournament leaderboard, and they are both unabashed admirers of the iconic and always challenging Riviera layout.
His playing partner Adam Scott, who fired a second straight 68 to join the group at six under, admitted he was impressed with how well Johnson was striking the ball. Johnson has been runner-up the last two years.
McIlroy started quickly with birdies on two of his first three holes on what is considered a shot-makers course. He took it over the eucalyptus trees on the 458-yard hole, leaving only a sand wedge from 116 yards.
Spieth and McIlroy have met just twice since Spieth won the Tour Championship in October. The way he drives the golf ball is just unreal. “It’s a lovely course”, Johnson said. Well be fine, he said.As for Harrington?He shot a 70 in white, classic-style Foot-Joys. He closed his second round with three consecutive birdies, so he will look to take that momentum into the weekend to go chase down the leaders. The fit the same.
He was at 141, nine shots back.
Reavie briefly stormed two shots clear with an eagle at the driveable par-four 10th where his tee shot ended up just off the front left edge of the green from where he sank a curling 33-foot putt.
After carding the worst opening round of his professional career – going eight over the card to kick-off proceedings – Spieth then missed the cut following a 68 on day two.
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LPGA: England’s Holly Clyburn shot a 7-under 65 today to move to 8-under 136 and into a tie for the clubhouse lead during the second round of the Women’s Australian Open. “Everyone wrote me off at 46!”
