KEY POINTS:
Steve Stricker, taking advantage of ideal scoring conditions, birdied six of his first nine holes en route to the early clubhouse lead in the Bob Hope Classic third round on Friday.
The 41-year-old fired a sizzling 11-under-par 61 on the Palmer Private course at PGA West, one of four venues hosting the 90-hole, pro-am celebrity event. He was caught and passed by the leader in the first two rounds - Pat Perez who set a PGA Tour record with a 36-hole total of 20-under 124 - by the end of the day but his 61 was clearly the best round of the day.
Eight strokes off the pace at the start of another benign day in the California desert, Stricker posted the lowest round of his Tour career for a 23-under total of 193. That left the four-times PGA Tour winner one shot clear of compatriot Vaughn Taylor, who carded a 64 on the same layout.
South Korean Charlie Wi, boosted by eagles at the eighth and 16th, was a further two strokes back at 20-under after returning a bogey-free 61 on the Jack Nicklaus Private course.
Level with Wi were Americans Tom Pernice junior (68), Rich Beem (65) and Briny Baird (70).
"I knew I had an opportunity to come out and try to shoot a good one," Stricker said after signing off with a birdie on his final hole, the par-four ninth. "There's a lot of trouble out there at Palmer some times but I was able to avoid it and put up a good number."
The softly-spoken American, widely regarded as one of the best putters on the Tour, made a fast start with four birdies in a row from the 11th before picking up further shots at the 16th and 18th.
Out in six-under 30, Stricker also birdied the second, third, sixth, seventh and ninth, where he struck a four-iron approach to three feet.
"When you can end a round by just tapping one in, it's always a bonus," said the world number 16, the highest-ranked player in the field. "It was a great day and it gets me into position for the rest of the tournament."
Perez hit a five-under par 67 to lead Stricker by two shots.
