Johnson, Hossler share lead

SAN FRANCISCO: World number one Dustin Johnson fired eight birdies in a seven-under par 64 on Friday to grab a share of the second-round lead alongside rookie Beau Hossler at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament.

Johnson, playing on the par-71 Monterey Peninsula course, one of three in use for the tournament, had just one bogey as he gained ground on overnight co-leader Hossler.

Hossler, who played the par-72 Spyglass Hill, had five birdies in a five-under 67 that put him on 12-under as well.

The leading duo were two strokes in front of Julian Suri, who carded a four-under 67 at Monterey Peninsula to get to 10-under and Troy Merritt, who shot a five-under 67 at Spyglass Hill.

Johnson, who opened the year with a victory at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii last month, teed off on the 10th hole at Monterey Peninsula and birdied his first three holes. He followed his lone bogey of the day with back-to-back birdies at 16 and 17, and picked up three more birdies coming in.

Five-time major-winner Phil Mickelson, a four-time winner in the tournament that teams amateurs from the world of big business, sports and celebrity with the pros, put himself in the mix for the weekend with a bogey-free 65 at Monterey Peninsula that left him tied for fifth on nine-under par.

He hit nine of 13 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation but said he expected a tougher challenge when he plays the par-72 Pebble Beach Golf Links on Saturday.

World number two Jon Rahm of Spain had five birdies without a bogey in his five-under par 67 at Pebble Beach on Friday.