Rory Sabbatini overcame a sloppy start in frigid temperatures and then ran off five straight birdies and finished strong for a six-under 65 that put him atop the Nissan Open leader board among the early starters on Friday.
The South African was in the second group and faced temperatures below eight degrees Celsius as the sun tried to climb above the mansions lining the fairways at Riviera Country Club. Starting on the 310-yard 10th hole, Sabbatini could barely grip the club and bladed a chip over the green to make bogey.
”I couldn’t feel my toes or my hands when I played it,” Sabbatini said. ”I hit a chip clear over the green. I even hit it clean over the back bunker. It was actually funny, walking on the 14th tee today, I looked at Tommy Armour and said, ‘Yes, I can actually feel my toes again.’ He had the same thought process.”
Sabbatini warmed up nicely, finishing two rounds at 10-under 132 that gave him a four-shot lead among the other players who also played before noon.
Thomas Levet of France had another 68 and was at six-under 136, along with Craig Barlow (69). United States Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman was among those another stroke back.
Tiger Woods was among the late starters, still sick as he began his second round eight shots out of the lead.
Sabbatini has been hot all year. He began the season at number 71 in the world ranking, coming off a lacklustre year on the US PGA Tour that was defined by his meltdown at Congressional when he walked off the 17th green because he was tired of waiting on Ben Crane.
Sabbatini has been doing his own yardage to help slow himself down. He also spent the off-season working on his fitness, and the combination has paid off handsomely. He was runner-up last week at Pebble Beach, although he never had a chance to catch Arron Oberholser. He also tied for second at the Sony Open in January when he shot 62 on the final day. In fact, his worst finish this year is a tie for 20th.
”I’ve managed to find the energy to maintain my concentration out there and stay focused,” Sabbatini said.
Ernie Els didn’t have much energy at all. He also is battling flu symptoms in his 2006 debut on the US tour, and he had every reason to pack in it after going three over par on his first three holes. But the Big Easy battled back for a 72 and was at even-par 142, leaving him on the cut line.
With Woods having missed two cuts last year, Els has the longest active streak on the tour — 24 consecutive tournaments in the money — although that was in jeopardy.
”I’m aware of that,” he said of his cut streak. ”I’m not trying to keep the cut streak alive; I was trying to get back in the tournament. My iron play let me down a little bit.”
David Duval is trying to get his mind off the cut line, and showed more improvement. Having had to play great golf to make the cut narrowly in Honolulu and Palm Springs, Duval got it to five under and was a brief presence on the leader board until he closed with two bogeys for a 72 that left him at two-under 140.
Sabbatini kept rolling along, even though he had to put up with greens that were bumpy as ever. Instead of complaining, he kept giving himself loads of chances and figured some of the putts would drop.
”If you give yourself opportunities out there, putts inside 15 and 20 feet, you’re going to make your fair share,” he said. ”That’s what you have to do.”
He was missing his share early on, particularly the five-footer on the 12th. But that’s when his round took off. He made an 18-foot birdie on the 13th, holed out from off the green on the 15th, and then made 20-foot birdie putts on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes before a two-putt birdie on number one to finish off his streak.
If left him in good shape heading into the weekend, a spot that is becoming more familiar. — Sapa-AP