PGA

• Stricker, Johnson on top at rainy Riviera

  
  

  Pacific Palisades, CA (Sports Network) - Steve Stricker fired a six-under 65 and shared the lead with Dustin Johnson when the second round of the Northern Trust Open was suspended Friday because of darkness.

  Johnson aced No. 6 in the pouring rain at Riviera and was 10-under par through 16 holes, having made a bogey at the 15th to fall into a tie with Stricker for the lead.

  Johnson and much of the afternoon wave of players will return to the course Saturday morning to finish the round.

  Stricker took the lead in a morning group with a round that included just 22 putts and two birdies he made from off the green. After posting a 10-under 132, Stricker said he was happy to be out of the rain.

  "It was pretty miserable out there today," said Stricker. "It never really let up." Johnson and Stricker turned the round into a two-man race. Only Andres Romero, who was seven-under through 15 holes when play was suspended, was within three shots of their lead.

  Justin Rose (67), Tim Wilkinson (67) and Kevin Stadler (71) were at six-under 136, while Anthony Kim (66), Ricky Barnes (71) and Steve Marino (67) reached the clubhouse at five-under 137.

  Phil Mickelson shot a five-under 66 -- six strokes better than the first round -- to climb 72 places on the leaderboard. The two-time defending champion said something finally "clicked" at the tournament where he is the leading all-time money winner.

  "Even though the conditions were much more difficult, I played a lot better," said Mickelson, who has ditched his controversial wedge with square grooves, at least for this week.

  MORE TO FOLLOW.

  02/05 20:24:45 ET