Americans Stricker and Armour set early pace at Riviera

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) - American Steve Stricker, although still feeling some early-season rust, eagled the par-five first en route to a share of the early lead in the Northern Trust Open second round on Friday.

On another calm day of bright sunshine at Riviera Country Club, the four-times PGA Tour champion also registered four birdies and a lone bogey to card a five-under-par 66.

That left him at eight-under 134, level with compatriot Tommy Armor III, who shot a second successive 67.

Australian Geoff Ogilvy, winner of the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship, fired a 67 to lie a further stroke back with South Korean KJ Choi (69), American Pat Perez (66) and South African Rory Sabbatini (67).

Stricker, who missed the cut in his most recent start at this month''s Phoenix Open, was delighted to take advantage of ideal scoring conditions.

"It was a good round and I got off to a good start," the 41-year-old told reporters, having made three birdies in his first six holes after teeing off at the par-four 10th.

"I just kept the momentum going, all the way through the round pretty much. We had a great day to play, perfect playing conditions, and the course is in great shape."

Despite his fast start at Riviera, Stricker said he had not yet shaken off the rust accumulated since the end of last year.

FEELING RUSTY

"It is early in the season and I feel rusty," added the American, who has to contend with winter snow at his home in Wisconsin. "It''s refreshing to come back out and play, because I haven''t played much at home.

"It''s my 16th year on Tour and I''ve been dealing with Wisconsin and early season and winters and snow and everything for a long time. So I''m used to it. I deal with it."

Stricker has not won since the 2007 Barclays Classic, a victory that helped him clinch the Tour''s Comeback of the Year honors for a second consecutive season.

Armour''s most recent win was even further back, at the 2003 Texas Open where he set a Tour record low total of 254 (26-under-par).

"The course is in perfect shape and I played pretty steady," the 49-year-old said after a round featuring five birdies and one bogey.

"I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and made some putts. Same thing I did yesterday. I''ve always liked playing here, and it''s in unbelievable condition right now, as good as I''ve ever seen it since 1982."  Continued...