LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — CareerBuilder Challenge leader Andrew Landry was quick to point out the windy forecast.
After two perfect days for scoring, wind at 15-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph was expected Saturday with the temperature only reaching the mid-60s after coming close to 80 on Friday.
And Landry and five others in the top nine were headed up the hill to PGA West’s once-feared, Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course for the weekend.
“It’s going to be a tough day,†Landry said. “I know that golf course can get a little mean. Especially, those last three or four holes coming down the stretch.â€
In calm conditions Friday, Landry shot a seven-under 65 on PGA West’s Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course to reach 16 under. He opened with a 63 on Thursday at La Quinta Country Club.
“It’s like a dome out here,†Landry said.
Jon Rahm, the first-round leader after a 62 at La Quinta, was a stroke back. He had two early bogeys in a 67 on the Nicklaus layout.
“It’s tough to come back because I feel like I expected myself to go to the range and keep just flushing everything like I did yesterday,†Rahm said. “Everything was just a little bit off.â€
Jason Kokrak was 14 under after a 67 at Nicklaus. Two-time major champion Zach Johnson was 13 under along with Michael Kim and Martin Piller. Johnson and Kim shot 64 at Nicklaus, and Piller had a 67 on the Stadium Course.
Rahm likened the Stadium to alma mater Arizona State’s Dye-designed Karsten course.
“Very, very similar type of golf,†Rahm said. “You need to hit it a lot more accurate off the tee because being in the fairway is a lot more important. With the small greens — and you have water in play — you need to be more precise. Clearly the hardest golf course.â€
Landry had five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine. After winning his second Web.com Tour title last year, the 30-year-old former Arkansas player had two top-10 finishes in October and November at the start the PGA Tour season.
“We’re in a good spot right now,†Landry said. “I played two good rounds of golf, bogey-free both times, and it’s just nice to be able to hit a lot of good quality shots and get rewarded when you’re making good putts.â€
Rahm had four birdies and the two bogeys on his first six holes. He short-sided himself in the left bunker on the par-3 12th for his first bogey of the week and three-putted the par-4 14th — pulling a 3-footer and loudly asking “What?†— to drop another stroke.
“A couple of those bad swings cost me,†Rahm said.
The top-ranked player in the field at No. 3 in the world, Rahm made his first par of the day on the par-4 16th and followed with five more before birdieing the par-5 fourth. The 23-year-old Spaniard also birdied the par-5 seventh and par-3 eighth.
“I had close birdie putts over the last four holes and made two of them, so I think that kind of clicked,†said Rahm, set to defend his title next week at Torrey Pines.
He has played the par 5s in 9 under with an eagle and seven birdies.
Johnson has taken a relaxed approach to the week, cutting his practice to two nine-hole rounds on the Stadium Course.
“I’m not saying that’s why I’m playing well, but I took it really chill and the golf courses haven’t changed,†Johnson said. “La Quinta’s still really pure, right out in front of you, as is the Nicklaus.â€
Playing partner Phil Mickelson followed his opening 70 at La Quinta with a 68 at Nicklaus to get to 6 under. The 47-year-old Hall of Famer is playing his first tournament of since late October.
“The scores obviously aren’t what I want, but it’s pretty close and I feel good about my game,†Mickelson said. “I feel like this is a great place to start the year and build a foundation for my game. It’s easy to identify the strengths and weaknesses. My iron play has been poor relative to the standards that I have. My driving has been above average.â€
Charlie Reiter, the Palm Desert High School senior playing on a sponsor exemption, had a 70 at Nicklaus to match Mickelson at 6 under. The Southern California recruit is playing his first PGA Tour event. He tied for 65th in the Australian Open in November in his first start in a professional tournament.
