Adam Scott and Justin Thomas finished off second-round 65s on Saturday to share the second-round lead at the rain-hit Genesis Open, where tournament host Tiger Woods was bullish on his chances of making the cut.
Scott and Thomas were tied at 11-under 131, 10 strokes better than Woods - who rolled in a 24-foot birdie putt at his final hole for an even par 71 and a one-under total of 141.
All three were among those returning to Riviera Country Club in chilly early morning weather to complete the second round, with half the field teeing off behind them.
“I couldn't feel my toes,” Thomas said of the cold that greeted the early starters. “In that shade, it was really, really chilly.”
But Thomas, who had 14 birdies in the 30 holes he played on Friday, kept the momentum going well enough over six holes on Saturday morning with a birdie at the fifth and a par at the par-three sixth - where he used a wedge on the green to chip over the distinctive bunker in the middle of the putting surface.
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“If the greens were normal I wouldn't have been able to take that route as easily,” said Thomas, who said that on the rain-softened green he knew the shot would “pretty much stick right where it lands”.
Scott, too, added one more birdie to his round on Saturday. The Australian has played 36 holes with just one bogey.
“So far I'm feeling pretty good about things,” Scott said. “It wasn't that easy early. It was very cold and hard to have any feel in the hands.
“I feel like I got the job done this morning because it's easy to drop a couple at Riviera at any point,” he added.
Thomas and Scott were one stroke in front of first-round leader J.B. Holmes, who carded a two-under 69 for 132.
American Patrick Rodgers holed out for an eagle at the par-four seventh - his 16th hole - on the way to a four-under 67 that put him at nine-under 133, tied with compatriot Michael Thompson.
It was a further stroke back to Tony Finau and Jordan Spieth.
Surging McIlroy
Rory McIlroy surged into contention, grabbing four birdies Saturday in the last six holes of an eight-under 63 for 135.
McIlroy rolled in a 19-footer at the par-three fourth, then drained a 35-footer at the fifth. He tapped in at the seventh after nearly holing his approach shot and made yet another birdie from outside 30 feet at his penultimate hole, the eighth.
“He played a beautiful round,” said playing partner Woods, who started his day with his fifth bogey of the second round.
His long putt from the fringe at his 36th hole, Riviera's ninth, gave him an even par 71 and a one-under total of 141.
That put him a couple of shots inside the projected cut line, and Woods was confident he'd be among those chasing a Sunday finish at the tournament that fell behind schedule with a seven-hour rain delay on Thursday.
Once the second round was complete and the cut made, officials planned to get the third round underway.
“I'm glad to be part of it going this afternoon and tomorrow,” Woods said. “I get two more rounds to kind of get after it.”
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