The China Mail - Austrian Straka seizes PGA Pebble Beach lead

Straka, who captured the American Express crown at Palm Springs earlier in January, stood on 14-under 130 after 36 holes, three ahead of Australia's Cam Davis and US 18-hole leader Russell Henley.

The 31-year-old from Vienna fashioned a 65 Thursday at Spyglass Hill and another Friday at windy Pebble Beach in the event, which uses a multi-course format just as the American Express, where he beat two-time major winner Justin Thomas by two strokes.

"Hitting the ball really well early in the round and then missed a few putts, but made some really nice putts, too," Straka said. "It was just all around a pretty solid day."

Straka matched the low round at Pebble Beach thanks to eight birdies against a lone bogey despite blustery conditions.

"Went from zero to about 20 mph pretty quickly," he said. "Took a few holes for me to adjust to it."

Straka said his strong back-to-back efforts isn't really a run, especially when top-ranked Scottie Scheffler won nine times last year.

"Last six rounds have been pretty nice," Straka said. "No, I would not classify that as a run. I think Scottie Scheffler's on a run."

Adjusting to a stronger putting grip with his hands higher on the putter has been a key to his recent success, Straka said.

"I think that has definitely made a huge difference," he said.

The Austrian reeled off three birdies in a row starting with a tap-in at the par-5 second hole followed by putts of 15 feet at three and eight feet at the fourth.

He reached the green in two again to birdie the par-5 sixth and rolled in a 22-foot birdie putt at nine to make the turn at 12-under.

Straka sank 12-foot birdie putts at 11 and the par-5 14th, then missed a four-foot par putt to bogey 16 but answered by reaching the green in two at the par-5 18th and closing out his round with a four-foot birdie putt.

Davis sank a 46-foot eagle chip on the first hole at Spyglass Hill on his way to a 68 but a closing bogey cost him solo second.

- Scheffler's 'weird day' -

A pack sharing fourth on 134 included England's Justin Rose, South Korean Tom Kim and Americans Andrew Novak, Austin Eckroat and Tony Finau.

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy endured a roller-coaster round in shooting 70 at Pebble Beach to stand six adrift on 136.

After making four birdies in his first seven holes, McIlroy made bogeys on four out of six on the back nine before closing with a 25-foot eagle putt at 18.

Scheffler, making his 2025 PGA season debut this week, fired a 70 at Pebble Beach to stand on 137.

"It was a weird day," Scheffler said. "My swing could definitely have been better. I had a weird combination of putts. I was hitting from 2.5 feet or lag putts all day. I didn't give myself enough opportunities but didn't shoot myself out of it."

P.Ho--ThChM