Thomas seizes Riviera lead as Woods surges

LOS ANGELES, California: Justin Thomas eagled the first hole of the third round Saturday to open a one-shot lead over Adam Scott at the rain-hit Genesis Open, where Tiger Woods was surging as darkness halted play.

Thomas and Australia’s Scott shared the 36-hole lead on 11-under par after both completed six-under par 65s in the rain-delayed second round.Thomas, who had 14 birdies in the 30 holes he played on Friday, kept the momentum going over six second-round holes on Saturday morning with a birdie at the fifth and a par at the par-three sixth — where he used a wedge on the green to chip over the distinctive bunker in the middle of the putting surface.

Hours later he rolled in a 13-foot eagle putt at Riviera Country Club’s par-five first hole to move to 13-under par, separating himself from Scott who birdied the same hole before both parred the second.

Americans Patrick Rodgers and JB Holmes were both 11-under par with 16 holes to play.“It just is such a long day,” Thomas said. “It’s good to get off to a good start and go home and get some rest.”

The third round was set to resume at 6:45 am (1445 GMT), as organizers pushed to complete a tournament that lost seven hours to a rain delay on Thursday.“It’s not going to be light yet,” said Woods, noting that players warming up for a 7 am start on Saturday could barely see.

Woods, who made the cut with one stroke to spare, wasn’t ready to be counted out.He was five-under through his first four holes to vault into a tie for 14th at six-under par.

“Made a couple of putts,” said Woods, whose struggles this week on the greens included four three-putts in the first round.He rolled in a five-foot birdie putt at the 10th, followed that up with a 10-footer for eagle at 11, a 21-foot birdie at 12 and a 10-footer at 13.“I putted well,” Woods said. “Hit a lot of good shots.”