The Starter: Round 3, Northern Trust Open

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Feb. 6, 2010

Weather update (10:45 a.m ET) The rain has not let up at Riviera, where a wet course has delayed the continuation of the second round. Play is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. ET at the earliest. Stay tuned for updates.

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR NETWORK on-site correspondent Michael Collins previews Saturday's action:

Mostly misery. That'd be the title of the book if someone wrote it for Round 2, which isn't even over as of Saturday morning.

Saturday's forecast

Rain
Temp: 60 high/48 low
Rain with winds at 10 mph.

But talking to Ernie Els after his round, I'm giving him the, "Best Husband" award. His wife didn't have an umbrella so he gave her his and played the round with no umbrella! His hat got so wet he would take it off before every shot, then put it back on to walk.

She went and got him an umbrella at the turn but by then he was so soaked, he never bothered with it. The "Macho Points" award goes to Dustin Johnson who played in the nastiness in short sleeves. And it paid off too, with an ace on the sixth hole.

As he walked off the seventh tee, I asked him, "How many is that in competition?" "Second one... both with the same club!" The 8-iron is definitely his favorite club from now on. With up to an inch of rain expected into Saturday, play may be in jeopardy.

Steve Stricker is hoping they tee it up, even if it's 40 degrees, blowing 20 mph, and there's water on the greens. Wouldn't stop him!! But don't sleep on Dustin Johnson, who looks like he's have fun when almost everyone around him looks like a wet rat.

INSTRUCTOR'S CORNER: Steve Voguit, head instructor at the TOUR Academyat World Golf Village, analyzes the playing conditions at Riviera.

For some, the rain put a damper on their play in Round 2 at Riviera, but for others, it was a non-issue. Steve Stricker finished Round 2 with a 65, placing him 10 under par going into the weekend, clearly showing his mental prowess and ability to play in very difficult conditions.

A great lesson to be learned from this is how to play golf in uncomfortable situations, whether we are a beginner golfer, or a seasoned veteran on the PGA TOUR.

To make your game more mentally tough, try building a pre-shot routine that you can consistently rely on. Here are a few steps to get you started. First, stand behind your ball and pick and intermediate target, a spot between your ball and ultimate target. Second, approach your ball and set your club face to the intermediate target and align your body parallel to the target line. Third always make sure to stay in motion and stare at your target. Lastly, let it rip! Watch the guys this weekend, run through their pre-shot routines as they battle the difficult weather conditions.

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today John Swantek recaps the second round of the 2010 Northern Trust Open, where Steve Stricker and Dustin Johnson are tied atop the leaderboard. Johnson's round was highlighted with an ace at the par-3 6th hole, but will have to finish his second round Saturday. Watch it
	Round 2 highlights Phil Mickelson rallied with a 66 on Friday that kept his hopes of a third consecutive title at Riviera alive. Watch it
	Shot of the Day Dustin Johnson hit 11 under -- and gained the lead -- when he holed his tee shot on the par-3 sixth in the second round. Watch it

Thus far at Riviera

Round	Leaders	Low round (par 71)	Key links
	Dustin Johnson (-7)	64: Dustin Johnson	Daily Wrap-up \| The Live Report Transcripts \| Helen Ross column