Dustin Johnson is among a group of four sharing the lead after a tricky day at the WGC-Cadillac Championship on Friday.
The American carded a two-over 74 at Doral to be equal top of the leaderboard with countrymen Patrick Reed, Matt Kuchar and Hunter Mahan. Strong winds, and the more challenging layout at Trump National, saw only those four players reach the halfway mark under par. Rory McIlroy (second-round 74) sits tied for fifth at even-par, with fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell (71) alongside him. Italian Francesco Molinari (75) and Welshman Jamie Donaldson (70 – the best round of the day) are also at even-par in Florida, where most players had to finish their first and second rounds on Friday. World number two Adam Scott (73) may be at four over, but that is good enough to be tied for 21st and still in contention. Tiger Woods, whose number one ranking is under threat, also carded a one-over 73 to be at five over, alongside the likes of Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson. Johnson could have held the outright lead heading into Saturday if not for a bogey at the 471-yard par-four 18th. His two-over 74 included a birdie at the fifth before a bogey on the seventh was followed by a birdie at the par-five 12th. But three bogeys on his final six holes could only see him in a share of the lead. Reed was also left to rue late bogeys, Kuchar moved into a share of the lead with birdies on the 15th and 18th while an eagle on the eighth – his second last hole – was the highlight of Mahan's round. It was Woods who produced the shot of the day at the par-three fourth, making birdie to get back to six over. The defending champion and 14-time major winner made an incredible 91-foot putt – one of the longest ever made on record. Americans Bubba Watson (72) and Zach Johnson (75) remain in the hunt at one over and tied for ninth. Overnight leader Harris English endured a tough second round with a 77 and is tied for 11th at two over in a group of six.