Golf:Defending champion and first round leader Dustin Johnson was joined by five others atop the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at the tournament's halfway point, while Pádraig Harrington was well-placed following a second round 67.
Paul Goydos carded the day's low round, a seven-under-par 65, to join Johnson on 10 under, while JB Holmes, Alex Cejka, Bryce Molder and Matt Jones were alongside the duo after 36 holes.
David Duval was alone in seventh place on nine under par, with three players on eighth under, including Harrington, seven on seven under and 11 within four shots of the lead on six under.
Harrington’s 67 was bogey free with birdies at the second and sixth to reach the turn in 34. Three more birdies came at the 11th, 15th and 18th.
Goydos, playing at Spyglass Hill, completed a blemish free round featuring seven birdies to climb from 25th place into a share of the lead.
The 45-year-old, chasing a third PGA Tour win, made birdies at the first, sixth, seventh, eighth and 11th before finishing with birdies at holes 17 and 18.
Johnson, who recorded an opening 64 which featured five straight birdies on the back nine, did not have such a strong day, signing for a two-under-par 68 at Monterey Peninsula which featured three birdies against one bogey.
However, his nearest overnight rivals also stuttered.
Holmes, who was equal second with KJ Choi after the first round, signed for a round of 67 at Monterey Peninsula to gain one stroke on Johnson and move into a share of the lead, while South Korea's Choi recorded an even-par 70 to remain on seven under.
Germany's Cejka, Molder and Jones each recorded five under par rounds to take a share of the lead, while Duval recorded a 68 at Pebble Beach to lie one shot behind.
Meanwhile, officials from the USGA and Ping met in Dallas this week to discuss the use of Ping Eye2 clubs on the Tour.
“We met with representatives from Ping yesterday,” USGA president Jim Hyler said in a statement. “Our conversation with Ping regarding the status of the Ping Eye2 irons on the major professional American tours was productive, and we are hopeful that a solution can be found that respects and reflects the best interests of golfers and the game.”
Ping chairman and chief executive John Solheim added in a statement: “We had a productive meeting with the USGA yesterday regarding the Ping Eye2 groove debate on the PGA Tour. I’m encouraged by their willingness to openly discuss some of the challenges the golf industry faces relating to equipment issues.
“We left the meeting with an understanding we would continue to seek a solution that benefits golfers and acknowledges the importance innovation plays in the game.”
The Ping wedge has grooves that no longer conform under a new US Golf Association regulation, adopted by the PGA TOUR. However, any Ping wedge made before April 1st, 1990, is approved for play under a legal settlement from two decades ago.
Several players believe using the club goes against the spirit of the new grooves regulation.
Collated second-round scores and totals from the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (USA unless stated, par 72):
Pebble Beach GC
134 Matthew Jones (Aus) 67 67
135 David Duval 67 68
136 Alex Prugh 68 68, Pádraig Harrington (Irl) 69 67
137 Tom Gillis 69 68
138 Brett Quigley 69 69, Vaughn Taylor 69 69, John Senden (Aus) 67 71, Greg Owen (Eng) 71 67, Tim Clark (Rsa) 70 68
139 Chris Wilson 72 67, J.P. Hayes 68 71, Cameron Percy (Aus) 69 70
140 Sean O'Hair 70 70, Marc Leishman (Aus) 70 70, Jay Williamson 70 70, Matt Kuchar 69 71, Brandt Snedeker 72 68
141 Ricky Barnes 72 69, J J Henry 72 69, Jeff Quinney 70 71, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 70 71, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 69 72
142 Robert Garrigus 72 70, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 72, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 76 66, Sam Saunders 72 70, Roger Tambellini 73 69, James Driscoll 70 72
143 Scott Piercy 73 70, Billy Horschel 75 68, Parker McLachlin 68 75
144 Kris Blanks 72 72, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 74 70, Adam Scott (Aus) 73 71, Martin Laird (Sco) 71 73, Kevin Chappell 77 67
145 Brad Adamonis 75 70, Garth Mulroy (Rsa) 70 75, Woody Austin 74 71
146 Brendon De Jonge 74 72, Jerry Pate 71 75
147 Matt Bettencourt 74 73
148 Brad Faxon 71 77, Mark O'Meara 77 71, Joe Ogilvie 73 75
149 Brian Stuard 72 77, Jeff Klauk 78 71, John Huston 73 76, Jamie Lovemark 75 74
150 Harrison Frazar 73 77
152 Steve Wheatcroft 74 78
Spyglass Hill GC
132 Paul Goydos 67 65, Alex Cejka (Ger) 65 67
134 Kevin Streelman 65 69
135 Phil Mickelson 68 67, Steve Marino 68 67, Jason Gore 69 66, Webb Simpson 67 68
136 Vijay Singh (Fij) 65 71, Bo Van Pelt 65 71, Tom Pernice Jnr. 67 69
137 Spencer Levin 68 69
138 Kevin Sutherland 68 70, Rickie Fowler 67 71, Heath Slocum 71 67, Nicholas Thompson 68 70
139 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 69 70, Pat Perez 68 71, Charley Hoffman 64 75, Brian Gay 66 73, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 68 71, John Mallinger 67 72, Blake Adams 65 74
140 Jeff Maggert 65 75, Tim Petrovic 72 68, Jonathan Byrd 70 70
141 Michael Letzig 67 74, Henrik Bjornstad (Nor) 71 70, Justin Bolli 70 71, Ryan Palmer 71 70, Jerod Turner 68 73, Christopher Baryla (Can) 68 73
142 John Daly 69 73, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 70 72, Chris DiMarco 69 73, Greg Kraft 70 72
143 Hunter Mahan 70 73, Troy Merritt 68 75, Rocco Mediate 69 74
144 Daniel Chopra (Swe) 68 76, Tim Herron 73 71, Davis Love III 69 75, Todd Hamilton 75 69
145 Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) 72 73, Brent Delahoussaye 69 76, Corey Pavin 73 72, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 75 70
146 Mitch Lowe 73 73, Jason Bohn 72 74
147 Stuart Appleby (Aus) 72 75, Derek Lamely 69 78
149 Chris Stroud 73 76, Rich Barcelo 72 77
Monterey Peninsula CC
132 Dustin Johnson 64 68, J.B. Holmes 65 67, Bryce Molder 67 65
134 D.J. Trahan 67 67
135 K J Choi (Kor) 65 70, Luke Donald (Eng) 70 65, Steve Elkington (Aus) 68 67
136 Kevin Na 71 65, Scott McCarron 70 66, Garrett Willis 68 68
137 Nick Watney 71 66, Will MacKenzie 70 67, Bob Estes 69 68, Jim Furyk 68 69, Mike Weir (Can) 67 70, Steve Lowery 73 64, Josh Teater 70 67
138 Omar Uresti 72 66, Jason Day (Aus) 71 67
139 Brian Davis (Eng) 71 68, Martin Flores 69 70, Vance Veazey 70 69, Lee Janzen 69 70, Ted Purdy 70 69, Chris Couch 68 71, Mark Wilson 71 68, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 72 67
140 David Lutterus (Rsa) 72 68, Kevin Johnson 70 70, Jimmy Walker 74 66, Chez Reavie 75 65, Cameron Tringale 71 69
141 Chris Riley 70 71, Bill Lunde 73 68, Jeff Gove 71 70
142 Charlie Wi (Kor) 68 74, Francis Quinn 72 70, Kyle Stanley 71 71, Mark Brooks 75 67, Matthew Every 73 69
143 Craig Bowden 73 70, Rich Beem 72 71, Michael Connell 70 73
144 Jeff Overton 75 69, Roland Thatcher 75 69, Graham Delaet (Can) 75 69
145 Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 73 72, Marc Turnesa 76 69, Johnson Wagner 75 70, Brenden Pappas (Rsa) 72 73
147 Notah Begay III 71 76
150 Sandy Lyle (Sco) 78 72