Stricker joins ace Johnson

Stricker: Early gains

Second round leaderboard:
US unless stated
(Round incomplete)
-10 S Stricker
-10 D Johnson (16)
-7 A Romero (Arg) (15)
-6 K Stadler
-6 T Wilkinson (NZ)
-6 J Rose (Eng)

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Overnight leader Dustin Johnson hit a hole-in-one but was joined at the top by Steve Stricker before play was suspended on day two of the Northern Trust Open in California.

Dank conditions greeted the players on Friday morning but it didn't stop world number three Stricker from firing a six-under-par 65 to vault to the summit before Johnson had teed off.

The American started at the 10th with a 21-foot putt from off the green to salvage par, but got his round going at the 18th with a chip-in birdie that was followed by another at the first.

He almost aced the fourth where his tee shot lipped out before resting beside the cup and further birdies at the fifth and eighth took him into a clear lead in conditions that few mastered.

Miserable

"I'm very happy to be done with the round to tell you the truth. It was pretty miserable out there today," said Stricker, who had to contend with steady drizzle throughout his round.

"I think the key for the round was chipping in at 18 for the birdie and making the turn at two-under, then birdieing No.1, that couple-hole stretch there kind of got me going."

However, Johnson was quickly back on the birdie trail again following his opening 64, picking up shots at the first and fourth, before holing his tee-shot at the 199-yard sixth to take the outright lead once again.

But the celebrations only served to put a break to his momentum as he failed to pick up another shot on the day, making his first bogey of the tournament at the 15th before being forced off the course after parring the next.

Johnson will be one of 41 players returning to Pacific Palisades on Saturday morning to complete his second round along with Argentina's Andres Romero, who is three shots off the lead through 15 holes.

England's Justin Rose is one of three players on six under par following a round of 67 which saw a burst of four birdies in five holes starting at the 17th.

Adjustment

World number two Phil Mickelson was over par in Thursday's first round but stormed back into contention with a round-of-the day 66, and afterwards the left-hander admitted he had needed a pep-talk from his coaches Butch Harmon and Dave Stockton.

"I had a good conversation last night (with them) and I think it settled in today," he said. "I was able to make the last adjustment and it felt great. I hit the ball much better and putted much better.

"I felt like I wasn't far off after (the first round) even though the score didn't reflect it. It was a difficult day.

"It was playing long and it was important to hit some good drives. I hit some decent tee shots and was able to play aggressive from there."

The projected cut is currently at +1, with several big names with work to do in the morning if they are to make it through to the weekend.

Padraig Harrington is two-over with two to play, Angel Cabrera and Justin Leonard three-over with three holes remaining.