The longer the shadows grew at Riviera Country Club on Friday afternoon, the less Bubba Watson and Rory McIlroy were willing to challenge the greens.
There is a fine line between aggressively trying to make putts and avoiding disaster on the poa annua putting surfaces, and they each chose to play on the defensive side in the second round of the Northern Trust Open.
The mercurial Watson rarely plays 10 straight holes with all pars, but he did so in shooting a bogey-free three-under-par 68 to go into the weekend in a three-way tie at eight under, two shots behind leader Jason Kokrak.
McIlroy put himself into more trouble on his back nine, trading two birdies with three bogeys in a 69 that had him four shots back.
“With the greens as fast as they are,” Watson said, “on some of the holes coming down the stretch, for me personally it was about making sure you don’t give yourself a four-footer. There were some that got away a little bit, but I still made them, so it worked out.”
McIlroy said he was so cautious about the bumpiness of the greens in late afternoon that he was marking his ball when he left it 18 inches from the hole.
“Sort of going, ‘You go ahead. I’ll take my time on this one,’ ” McIlroy said with a grin. “It is a fine balance. I think that it’s all to do with your approach shot. If you can leave the ball below the pin here and give yourself uphill putts, it makes it a hell of a lot easier.”
Leonard: Ski or practice?
In the 23rd year of his PGA Tour career, Justin Leonard has settled on a new formula for better golf: practice less, ski more.
“I’ve talked myself into believing that skiing is actually helping my golf,” the 45-year-old said.
Leonard, who is sporting a beard, recently moved to Colorado and decided to trim his schedule to 10-12 starts a year. Between tournaments, there is some work in the gym, lots of time on the slopes, nothing on the range.
“I take my clubs out of the travel cover to make sure nothing is broken,” he said. “And then they just sit in a corner till I pack them up again.”
This unconventional strategy worked through the first two rounds at the Northern Trust Open. Leonard shot three-under 69 in the second round and stood tied for seventh at six under.
Asked about parallels between his two favorite pastimes, he smiled and said facetiously, “It’s amazing how similar they are.”
This is Leonard’s fifth start of the wraparound season and third in the new year. He missed the cut at the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta and shot 76-76 two weeks ago in the Phoenix Open.
The former British Open champion has 12 tour victories, but he hasn’t won since the 2008 St. Jude Championship. He’s never had a top-10 finish at Riviera in 18 starts.
Villegas struggles
After his opening 63, Camilo Villegas was probably due for a letdown. It was more of a crash landing, as the Colombian took 11 more strokes in scoring 74 to drop from the top to a tie for 15th at five under.
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Bubba Watson cradles the winner’s trophy on the 18th green after rallying for a victory in the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Sunday.
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Dakota Watson, who is 18 months old, romps on the 18th green as father Bubba Watson accepts the winner’s trophy for the Northern Trust Open.
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Bubba Watson waves to fans after hitting his approach at the 18th hole on Sunday during the final round of the Northern Trust Open.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 4/54
Bubba Watson walks ahead of Jason Kokrak toward the 18th fairway.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 5/54
Bubba Watson waves to fans after making a birdie on the 17th hole that put him in the lead of the Northern Trust Open on Sunday at Riviera Country Club.
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Bubba Watson slams a long drive during a round of 68 on Sunday to win the Northern Trust Open at the Riviera Country Club. He finished four rounds at 15 under par.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 7/54
Jason Kokrak falls to the ground after missing a birdie putt on the 18th hole that would’ve put him in a tie for the lead.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 8/54
Adam Scott hits from the trees surrounding the green on the 10th hole during the final round of the Northern Trust Open. Scott saved par on the hole.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 9/54
Fans receive high-fives from K.J. Choi as he walks to the 15th hole during the final round of the Northern Trust Open on Sunday at Riviera Country Club.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 10/54
Jason Kokrak blasts out of a greenside bunker at No. 16, helping him save par during the final round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 11/54
Steve Stricker hits out of a fairway trap on the eighth hole during the final round of the Northern Trust Open on Sunday.
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Dustin Johnson hits a shot out of the rough at No. 8 during the final round of the Northern Trust Open on Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 13/54
K.J. Choi watches his drive on the par-three 14th hole during the final round of the Northern Trust Open on Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 14/54
Adam Scott watches his drive land on the green while on his way to a biridie at the sixth hole during the final round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 15/54
Rory McIlroy puts at No. 1 during the third round of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday at Riviera Country Club.
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Dustin Johnson lines up a putt on the eighth hole during the third orund of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday at Riviera Country Club.
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Bubba Watson tees off on the fourth hole Saturday during the third round of Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
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Chez Reavie hits from a bunker to the third green during the third round of the Northern Trust Open.
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Troy Merritt drives from the second tee during the third round of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday.
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Hideki Matsuyama lines up a putt on the first hole during round the third round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
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Kevin Chappell tees off at No. 2 during the third round of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday.
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K.J. Choi reacts after sinking a putt at No. 3 during the third round of the Northern Trust open on Saturday.
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Charl Schwartzel hits around a tree from the rough along the first fairway at Riviera Country Club on Saturday.
(Robert Laberge / Getty Images) 24/54
Rory McIlroywatches his tee shot at No. 2 during the third round of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday.
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Jason Kokrak takes his shot out of a fairway bunker on the seventh hole during the third round of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday.
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Bubba Watson acknowledges the crowd after finishing the third round of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday at Riviera Country Club.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press) 27/54
Spectators lean over the rope to watch Rory McIlroy hit out of the rough along the 18th fairway at Riviera Country Club on Friday during the second round of the Northern Trust Open.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 28/54
Jason Kokrak acknowledges the crowd Friday after finishing the 18th hole at Riviera Country Club. Kokrak leads the Northern Trust Open at 10 under par after a seven-under 64 on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 29/54
Chez Reavie reacts after sinking a birdie putt at No. 18 to finish the second round with a four-under-par 67. He’s in second place after two rounds of the Northern Trust Open at nine under.
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Bubba Watson hits a chip shot from the rough on the 17th hole during the second round of the Northern Trust Open.
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Justin Rose hits out of a sand trap at No. 9 on Friday during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
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Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot at No. 11 on Friday during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club. McElroy is tied with seven others for seventh at six under.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 33/54
Bubba Watson tosses his putter after missing a birdie putt on the 12th hole during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Friday. Watson is tied for third at eight under after two rounds.
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Jason Kokrak hits his approach shot into the 18th green during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Friday.
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As afternoon shadows lengthen across Riviera Country Club, leader Jason Kokrak follows through on his approach shot into the 18th green during the second round of the Northern Trust Open on Friday.
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The kikuyu grass flies as Rory McIlroy hits out of the rough along the 12th fairway Friday during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 37/54
Ernie Els hits out of a greenside bunker at the 10th hole during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 38/54
Jason Kokrak hits a chip shot onto the 17th green during the second round of the Northern Trust Open on Friday.
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Justin Rose hits from under the branches of a tree at No. 10 on Friday during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 40/54
Rory McIlroy hits from the rough at No. 10 during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 41/54
James Hahn, the Northern Trust Open winner last year, hits out of a sand trap at the 10th hole during the second round of the Northern Trust Open on Friday. Hahn missed the cut at four over.
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An aerial view of Riviera Country Club, site of the Northern Trust Open golf tournament, taken from the MetLife blimp on Friday.
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Camilo Villegas tees off on the ninth hole during first round of the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.
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Camilo Villegas reacts after sinking a birdie putt on the eighth hole during the first round of Northern Trust Open.
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Jordan Spieth prepares to tee off during the first round of the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.
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Jordan Spieth chips onto a green during the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.
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Rory McIlroy doffs his cap after finishing the first round of the Northern Trust Open golf tournament on Thursday at Riviera Country Club.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 48/54
Justin Thomas and his caddie line up a putt during the first round of the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 49/54
Justin Thomas reacts after missing a putt during the first round of the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 50/54
Fred Couples tees off during the first round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Thursday.
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Fred Couples fist-bumps Justin Thomas after both sank long birdie putts at the fifth hole during the first round of the Northern Trust Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 52/54
Bubba Watson tees off at No. 9 during the first round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 53/54
James Hahn, the 2015 winner, lines up a putt during the first round of Northern Trust Open on Thursday at Riviera Country Club.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 54/54
Justin Rose lines up a putt during the first round of the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) His birdie count went from nine to two, and he made a double-bogey six on the second hole.
“It’s not as sharp as yesterday — it’s fine,” Villegas said. “I can go to my hotel and just kind of complain about it, or I can just have a good attitude and come here tomorrow and then have a good weekend.”
Notable
The cut came at even par. Among those missing the weekend are defending champion James Hahn (four over), 2013 winner John Merrick (five over), two-time champion Fred Couples (four over) and Sergio Garcia (four over). … Valencia’s Jason Gore withdrew with a back injury after playing the 14th hole. He was five over in the round and 10 over for the tournament. ... Charl Schwartzel had a wild second round with seven birdies, an eagle, a double bogey on No. 10 and a triple bogey on No. 2. He shot a second straight 68 and is six under.
Tod.leonard@sdtribune.com
David.wharton@latimes.com
