LOS ANGELES: Even a bad back didn't put Fred Couples off his stride at Riviera Country Club, a “special spot” for the US veteran who seized the second-round lead at the Northern Trust Open. The 51-year-old Couples, who won US PGA Tour titles at Riviera in 1990 and 1992, carded a five-under par 66 Friday, for an eight-under total of 134. Couples had an eagle and three birdies without a bogey and was in the clubhouse before the long-forecast rain arrived in the afternoon. He was two shots in front of Australian John Senden and American JB Holmes. Both were in the nine-man group that shared the overnight lead Thursday and both shot 69 for 136. American Spencer Levin was six-under through 15 when play was halted by darkness with 26 players still on the course. Australian Robert Allenby, who teed off on 10, birdied all three of Riviera's par-fives. He was six-under for the tournament after a birdie at the par-three sixth, his 15th, but bogeyed his finishing hole in fading light and driving rain to complete a 70 that left him on five-under 137. He was tied with South African Trevor Immelman (67) and Americans Ryan Moore (68), Kevin Na (66) and Stewart Cink (67). Couples elected not to defend one of those titles this week, preferring to return to a Riviera course he calls one of his favorites. “I feel like I can play this course blindfolded,” Couples said. “It doesn't mean I'm going to shoot a good round, but I've played here 29 years, pro-ams, practice rounds, haven't missed many cuts ... so it's an advantage for me.” Couples benefitted not only from his ability to manage Riviera, but also from his ability to manage his own troublesome back. Despite a warm-up routine so limited by his back trouble that Couples says it's better described as “waiting for my tee time to come” he got off to a quick start. Tseng takes over lead In Pattaya, Thailand, the top-ranked Yani Tseng closed in on her third tournament victory in three weeks when she grabbed a one-shot lead in the LPGA Thailand in the third round Saturday. A four-foot eagle putt on her finishing hole on the Pattaya Old Course at Siam Country Club carded the Taiwanese star a 2-under 70 and lifted her to a 9-under 207 total, one better than Michelle Wie (71) and second-round leader IK Kim (72). “It was very exciting finishing eagle, that's for sure,” Tseng said. “Nice to have a one-shot lead over IK and Michelle.” Tseng double-bogeyed the second hole but made up a shot by the turn. Three birdies spanning holes 10-15 put her in front by two, but they were offset by consecutive bogeys on 16-17, and the closing eagle saved her round. American Paula Creamer (70) was alone in fourth at 7-under and Kerrie Webb (68) was fifth at 6-under. MJ Hur (68) of South Korea followed at 5-under, then a group of four at 4-under included former world No. 1 Juli Inkster (73). Defending champion Ai Miyazato (73) was at 1 over, 10 shots behind. Larrazabal ahead In New Delhi, a final hole eagle on the way to a six-under 66 earned Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal the third round clubhouse lead at the Indian Masters Saturday. Keeping him company at 11-under was Briton Robert Coles, who will return on Sunday to first play the remaining two holes of his third round as 90 minutes' play were lost to a dense fog on Saturday morning at the DLF Golf and Country Club. SSP Chowrasia and Sujjan Singh lead the local hopes at 10-under, along with Argentina's Rafa Echenique.
