Stricker Storms Five Clear

American Steve Stricker is five shots clear of the field following a weather-shortened third day at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.

Stricker, runner-up behind Phil Mickelson 12 months ago at Pacific Palisades, had built up that commanding lead when play was suspended early for the second night in a row after another wet and windy day near Los Angeles.

The world number three was four under for the day and 14 under for the tournament after playing 14 holes of his third round, before time was called on a day that had begun with 41 players still playing their second rounds.

"It was a good day," Stricker said. "I don't know what kind of lead I have, but I still have to come out and play my own game and make sure that I do the things that I've been doing the previous three days."

England's Luke Donald was one of the late finishers returning to a par-71 course that had seen three inches of rainfall overnight on Friday, completing a one-under-par second round of 70 to get to four under and then turning straight around to move to nine under after 18 bogey-free holes and a five-under third-round 66.

That put Donald, bidding for a first victory since the 2006 Honda Classic, in a tie for second with Andres Romero of Argentina, who had played 14 holes bogey-free but with just one birdie, and American JB Holmes, who carded a five-birdie, one-bogey 67.

Halfway leader Dustin Johnson is on eight under after 14 holes, three over for his third round with four holes to play. Also on eight under were his fellow Americans George McNeill (66), and Kevin Stadler, who has played 15 holes.
Contention

US Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim had been going well at nine under until back-to-back bogeys at the 15th and 16th left him at seven under with one to play.

Englishman Justin Rose had got into contention with a second-round 67 that got him to six under but the Ryder Cup man was unable to make further progress and was one over for his third round after 15 holes.

Mickelson, bidding for a third title in a row at Riviera, was another unable to keep pace with the leaders as he carded a level-par 71 to stay at four under for the tournament, with England's Brian Davis on three under having completed a 68.