Goosen in Solo First at Northern Trust Open


For most of the second round the 5-under-par number that led five players to enter Friday with a share of the lead at the Northern Trust Open remained the same as Riviera Country Club continued to play difficult. But a birdie on his final hole gave one of those co-leaders, Retief Goosen, first place to himself after 36 holes of the $6.7 million PGA Tour event in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Goosen, a 46-year-old South African, began Round 2 tied for the lead with Vijay Singh, Nick Watney, Daniel Summerhays and James Hahn after each shot 5-under 66s. But Goosen's final birdie gave the two-time U.S. Open champion a 70 on the classic, George Thomas-designed layout, and a 36-hole total of 6-under 136.

One stroke back at 137 are Americans Ryan Moore and Justin Thomas, who carded a 68 and 69, respectively, and Canada's Graham DeLaet, whose 4-under 67 was the low round of the day.

The 33-year-old DeLaet spoke for the rest of the field when, during a brief interview at greenside, he said of Riviera, "It's tough. This is a tough golf course. I made a lot of par saves today." That the Saskatchewan native did, along with five birdies and a bogey.

Thomas is a 21-year-old rookie from Louisville. Starting play on the 10th tee, Thomas recorded two birdies and a like number of bogeys on his front nine. On the par-5 first hole (his 10th), Thomas got an eagle followed by a birdie on the par-4 second before coming home with a bogey and six pars for a 69.

"(The eagle) was big," said Thomas. "This is a great golf course. I was able to manage my round pretty well."

Moore, a four-time Tour winner already with a victory (in the 2014 CIMB Classic) this season, echoed DeLaet and Thomas's assessment of Riviera. "The greens are so firm and so bouncy," the Tacoma native said.

"I hit a handful of what I would say were as good a shot as I could possibly hit the last couple of days and I end up with 45-footers . . . It's very consistent throughout the whole golf course. That's all I look for. If there's consistency, I'm happy with it."

Defending champion Bubba Watson - who won last year with a 15-under total of 269, which likely won't be attainable by Sunday - followed up his opening 70 with a 69 and enters the weekend at 3-under 139. Also at that mark are Derek Fathauer (73), J.B. Holmes (69) Jordan Spieth (70).

Spieth, who won the NCAA championship at Riviera in 2012, said of the venue, "The course is playing much like a major championship. It's fair. If the wind picks up it can be even tougher. It's one of the greatest golf courses in the world."

Playing again with Goosen, Singh posted a 74 after his opening 66. The Fijian - who turns 52 Sunday - was 1-over through 16 holes before making a double-bogey at the par-4 eighth (his 17th hole). The three-time major champion is at 2-under 140 with South Korea's Seung-Yul Noh, Spain's Sergio Garcia, who each shot 69s, and Watney (74).

Summerhays and Hahn had not completed their second rounds as this story was posted. Due to darkness Thursday, several players finished their first rounds Friday morning, a scenario that may be repeated Saturday.

The expected 36-hole cut is 3-over 145. The winner of last week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Brandt Snedeker is right at that number after rounds of 73 and 72. Two-time champion Fred Couples started with a 71 but struggled Friday with a 4-over 75 and missed out on the weekend.

Also heading home are major winners Lucas Glover, Webb Simpson and Ernie Els. England's Brian Davis and two-time winner Mike Weir of Canada withdrew before the second round.

For updated scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.