Zach Johnson, Alex Noren share PGA Tour lead in California desert

LOS ANGELES – Zach Johnson, eager to focus on his game after the demands of Ryder Cup captaincy, fired a 10-under 62 to share the opening lead in the PGA Tour’s American Express event with Sweden’s Alex Noren.

The two-time Major winner had 10 birdies in a blemish-free round on Jan 18 on the La Quinta course, one of three in use over the first three days of the tournament in the California desert.

After stringing together six straight birdies from the fourth, the 47-year-old rolled in an eight-foot putt for his final birdie of the day at the 17th to take the solo lead.

Noren, 41, joined him after a more up-and-down day at La Quinta, where he was seven under after his first seven holes thanks to five birdies and an eagle, then hit out of bounds to take a double bogey at his eighth hole, the par-four 17th.

Five birdies in his final six holes pushed him to a share of the lead in pursuit of a first PGA Tour title to go with his 10 European Tour wins.

Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion who claimed the last of his 12 Tour titles at the 2015 British Open, missed the cut last week in Hawaii. But he said he was excited by the prospect of a season more focused on his game.

“Put a lot of good work in as of late,” said Johnson, whose US team fell to Europe in Rome in the 2023 Ryder Cup.

“Actually been a lot of normal golf work, given what happened last year with what I was responsible for... Now it’s time to get back to work. I’ve enjoyed the work. I’ve enjoyed the sweat.”

Johnson added that his day at low-scoring La Quinta east of Los Angeles was pretty straightforward. “Got off to a good start. Gained some momentum. Hit a lot of shots in the middle... I was able to be aggressive, which is always key. Obviously, I putted good.”

Swede Noren, meanwhile, had a sense of whiplash but was pleased with the ultimate outcome.

“I don’t think I’ve been seven under after seven, and then I hit it out of bounds on my eighth hole,” he said. “Then came down with five birdies, so I’m super happy.”

The leading duo were one stroke clear of Rico Hoey and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

South African Bezuidenhout and Filipino Hoey, who grew up in California, both had nine birdies at La Quinta and Nicklaus Tournament Course respectively.

Nine golfers were tied on 64, a group that included world No. 5 Xander Schauffele and No. 6 Patrick Cantlay.

Elsewhere, Cameron Young carded an eight-under 64 to claim a three-shot lead after the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club on Jan 19.

The American, who moved to 13-under 131, said: “I putted fantastic. I made a couple of long ones yesterday and then made a few more today that had no right going in.”

England’s Andy Sullivan (67) and Pole Adrian Meronk (66) are joint second, three shots ahead of Danish twins Nicolai (69) and Rasmus Hojgaard (70), and Scot Richie Ramsay (68). AFP, REUTERS