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Weir, Maruyama in lead

John Daly tees off on the 16th hole during the Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, Friday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Mike Weir birdied five of his last seven holes for a 7-under 64 that gave him a tie for the lead with Shigeki Maruyama, and a share of the 36-hole record at the Nissan Open.

Weir also raised hopes of becoming a back-to-back winner at Riviera since Ben Hogan, although none of that seemed to matter to a gallery gone gaga over John Daly.

Coming off a stunning victory last week at Torrey Pines -- his first on the PGA Tour in nine years -- Daly played even better Friday in his round of 64 that left him only two shots out of the lead.

"It's a great feeling," Daly said. "I really didn't mis-hit a golf shot."

He wasn't alone on a cool, overcast day off Sunset Boulevard, where the average score was 69.76. Tiger Woods shot a 66 and didn't make up any ground, heading into the weekend eight shots behind Weir and Maruyama.

Maruyama, a member at Riviera, was only hopeful of making the cut and wound up with a 66. He and Weir were at 12-under 130, tying the 36-hole record set by Davis Love III in 1992.

Scott McCarron (65) and Briny Baird (62) were another shot back.

Daly also tied a record -- most trips to the media center in a week.

He was as entertaining in 20 minutes with reporters as he was on the golf course.

Among the latest revelations:

-- He has lost 21kg since the start of the year. ``I just went nuts at Christmas, ate everything in sight,'' he said.

-- He still hates flying commercial. "You pay for gas and hope you get there," he said.

-- He drives his customized motor home around the country, with three 42-inch plasma TVs.

-- Golfweek magazine reported that Daly is paying US$20,000 a month to two ex-wives for alimony and child support.

Weir came into the room and jokingly sat on Daly's lap. McCarron, who didn't play last week, was supposed to go skiing on Sunday until he saw Daly in the lead at Torrey Pines.

"I canceled my ski trip to stay and watch the golf tournament," McCarron said. "John Daly means a lot to golf, and I just hope he keeps going the way he's going now, because he's playing some great golf."

Weir isn't doing too badly, either. He saved his round with a 40-foot par putt on No. 8 and, despite missing birdie chances on Nos. 10 and 11, played the toughest holes with ease.

Weir used to show up at Riviera and go home for the weekend. That all changed last year, when he got into a playoff with Charles Howell III and won on the second extra hole.

"I seem to have figured this course out," said Weir, who now has shot his last five rounds in the 60s at Riviera.
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