Sepp Straka carves out three-stroke halfway lead at Pebble Beach

Sepp Straka fired a second successive 65 to take a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

The Austrian Ryder Cup player, who won The American Express tournament last month, carded his second successive seven-under-par round at Pebble Beach before the worst of the weather arrived.

Overnight leader Russell Henley, who added a second round 69, shares second on 11-under-par with Australian Cam Davis after his 68 on the Spyglass Hill course.

Justin Rose added a 69 at Spyglass Hill to his opening 65 to be among a group on 10-under-par which also includes American Tony Finau and South Korea’s Tom Kim, who both matched Straka for the lowest round of the day.

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Rory McIlroy hole a 25-foot putt to eagle the 18th at Pebble Beach for a round of 70, which drops him into a large group on eight-under-par.

The Northern Irishman, who opened with a 66, picked up four birdies in his opening seven holes, but four dropped shots in six holes from the 12th dropped him off the pace.

Among those alongside him in a tie for 13th are Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who also shot a 70, Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard and American major champions Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, playing his first tournament of the season after a hand injury, is a shot further back after rescuing par from the beach on the 18th at Pebble Beach for a round of 70.

McIlroy’s playing partner Ludvig Aberg, who opened with a 77, withdrew before the second round due to illness.

The final two rounds are played without the amateur partners at Pebble Beach.