KITAYAMA LEADS PEBBLE BEACH AS WIND LOOMS

Kurt Kitayama is starting to feel more comfortable each time he gets in contention on the PGA Tour, and the Californian can only hope that’s the case going into the weekend at the AT&T Pebble Beach ProAm.

Kitayama opened with 10 straight pars before getting on track and finished birdiepar on two of the tougher holes at Pebble Beach for a 2under 70 that gave him a one-shot lead Friday.

Kitayama was at 9-under 134 and led by one over Keith Mitchell, Brandon Wu, Joseph Bramlett and Hank Lebioda.

The way the forecast looks, getting comfortable on the Monterey Peninsula takes on a different meaning. Katayama’s last shot at his first PGA Tour win was in the fall in the CJ Cup of South Carolina at Congaree. He was tied for the lead going into the weekend with Jon Rahm, and he was in the final group and one shot behind Rory McIlroy going to the final round.

He also finished runnerup to Rahm in Mexico last year, and to San Diego’s Xander Schauffele in the Scottish Open.

“I think the more you put yourself in that position the more you can get comfortable feeling uncomfortable,” Kitayama said. “It’s definitely good experiences to fall back on and use coming Sunday, hopefully.”

The contenders at Pebble don’t have that kind of star power. Of the leading 10 players, only four have won on the PGA Tour and Scott Stallings is the only multiple winner.

Far more daunting is the fickle weather at this tournament.

Starting times for today were moved up one hour because of strong wind, and it doesn’t take much in these parts for it to be a problem.

Caddie collapses at Pro-Am

The caddie for an amateur in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am collapsed on the 11th fairway, and CPR was performed on him until an ambulance arrived to take him to the hospital.

The PGA Tour did not release his name. Early reports were the caddie’s condition was improving. He was working for Pebble Beach businessman Geoff Couch, who did not return to finish the round.

Elsewhere

Abraham Ancer of Mexico had a 4-under 66 and led by one shot over PGA Tour rookie of the year Cameron Young in the Saudi International.

The Asian Tour event had a majority of Saudifunded LIV Golf players, including Ancer. Young, who had a second straight 65, was among players who received a release from the PGA Tour to play. Ancer was at 11-under 129.

Marc Leishman (64) and

Louis Oosthuizen (67) were among those three shots behind.

British Open champion

Cameron Smith, San Diego native Phil Mickelson and

Bryson DeChambeau all missed the cut. Also missing the cut was Bubba Watson, who is playing for the first time since the PGA Championship last May.

• David Law’s strong finish gave the Scot a share of the lead with Adrian Meronk and Rasmus Hojgaard at the halfway point of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship in the United Arab Emirates. Law’s bogey-free, 8-under 64 included an eagle and three birdies over the last five holes at Al Hamra Golf Club to reach 11-under overall.