Watson takes lead at Genesis Open

LOS ANGELES — Back to his day job, Bubba Watson began with a tap-in eagle at Riviera and finished with a 6-under 65 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead over Patrick Cantlay in the Genesis Open.

Watson, a two-time winner at Riviera, has gone two years since his last victory and has fallen out of the top 100 in the world.

Watson was at 10-under 203 and will be in the final group with Cantlay, the former No. 1 amateur in the world and polar opposite of Watson.

Cameron Smith (65), Kevin Na (67), Graeme McDowell (70) and Tony Finau (68) were two shots back. Suddenly in the mix was defending champion Dustin Johnson, who told his brother at the turn that he had 27 holes to show what he had. Johnson then shot 29 on the front nine for a 64 and was four shots behind.

Justin Thomas played before a mostly quiet crowd after two days with Tiger Woods, who missed the cut. Thomas overcame a few mistakes for a 67 and was four shots back. Phil Mickelson had a 67 and was five behind. Jordan Spieth had nine straight pars between birdies on the par 5s and shot 69. He was seven back.

Rory McIlroy, who also played with Woods, had a 73 and fell out of contention.

CHAMPIONS’ CHUBB CLASSIC: Joe Durant birdied five of the last eight holes for a 9-under 63 to match Steve Stricker’s finish and take the secondround lead.

Durant rebounded from a three-putt bogey on the par-4 10th with birdies on the next two holes and also birdied Nos. 15-17. He had a 14-under 130 total on TwinEagles’ Talon course for a one-stroke lead over Stricker.

Stricker had nine birdies in a bogey-free round. Playing alongside John Daly, Stricker birdied three of the last four on the front nine and birdied the last two for a back-nine 31.

First-round leader Miguel Angel Jimenez was two strokes back. He birdied three of the last four in a 68 after opening with a 64.

WOMEN’S AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Jin Young Ko continued her domination, shooting a 1-under 71 to increase her lead to four strokes after three rounds.

Australian golfer Hannah Green moved into second place after the round of the day, a 66.

South Korea’s Hyejin Choi (70), was tied for third, five strokes behind. Australia’s top-ranked golfer Minjee Lee was tied for fifth after a 69, six off the lead.