Johnson has one-stroke lead over Spieth
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Dustin Johnson has missed nine birdie chances from 10 feet or closer at Liberty National, which ordinarily might annoy him.
But he is hitting it so well that he still leads The Northern Trust Open.
Johnson birdied three of his last six holes Friday, finishing with an approach to within 8 feet on the 489-yard closing hole, for a 4-under-par 67 that gave him a one-shot lead over Jordan Spieth (64) going into the weekend. He was at 12-under 130.
“I’ve got a lot of control with the golf ball and hitting a lot of really nice shots and rolled in a couple of putts today which is nice, but still feel like I left quite a few out there,” Johnson said. “I’m in a good position heading into the weekend, and if I can keep swinging the way I am, I think it’s going to be a good weekend.”
The weekend does not include Masters champion Tiger Woods, and neither did Friday.
Woods, who opened with a 75, withdrew a few hours before his second round was to begin because of what he described as a mild strain to the oblique that Woods says was causing pain and stiffness. It is the first time that he withdrew in the middle of a tournament since February 2017, two months before fusion surgery on his lower back. He said he was hopeful to play next week at Medinah.
In other golf news:
• Mi Jung Hur surged to a two-shot lead in the rain-delayed second round of the Ladies Scottish Open, getting the best of the draw and finishing in the early evening with a 9-under 62. Players with morning tee times dealt with heavy wind and rain at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, and play was suspended in the early afternoon, delaying the start times for half of the field and giving them a huge advantage as the sun came out and the wind died. The second round could not be completed because of darkness. The South Korean was at 14under 128. None of the players who started in the morning was inside the top 20. Moriya Jutanugarn was 12 under after a
66.