Allenby again puts himself in position to win at Riviera

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PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- Robert Allenby has been looking forward to the Northern Trust Open since he finished third at Riviera last year.

Robert Allenby likes the direction his game is heading. (How/WireImage)

Inside the Numbers

Robert Allenby in 2008

Event Score Result Sony Open in Hawaii +1 MC Bob Hope Chrysler Classic -18 T12 Buick Invitational +1 T35 FBR Open -7 T25

With good reason, too. He's earned more than $1.1 million at the event on the strength of three top-10s, including that hard-fought win in 2001 when the Aussie drilled a 3-wood in the cold rain to 5 feet at the 18th hole to win a six-way playoff.

Allenby finds himself in position for another victory after Friday's 66 left him tied for second with Jeff Quinney, four strokes behind Phil Mickelson. The round of 5 under marked the 20th time Allenby has broken par in 32 career rounds at Riviera.

The Aussie played his first 11 holes on this clear, crisp Friday in 6 under -- rolling in putts of 4, 18, 10 and 35 feet, along with two of 12 and 18 inches. He made bogey from the left rough at the 12th hole, the closed with six straight pars.

"I'm happy with the way I played," Allenby said. "I played nicely, especially the first 11 holes. Probably the last six, seven holes, well, I didn't make my birdies. It wasn't a matter of missing putts or anything like that. I just never hit it close enough to really give myself a chance.

"If Phil is at 10 under, that's fine. There's a long way to go. There's still 36 holes to go and a lot of birdies out there. So I've made plenty of birdies here before, so there's no reason why I can't do it on the weekend."

Allenby says the traditional and tree-lined layout designed by George Thomas fits his eye. He grew up playing on poa annua like the ones at Riviera and he says whenever he stands over a putt "it's like I already know the line."

Small wonder, then, that Allenby hasn't missed a chance to play in the Northern Trust Open since 1999. The four-time PGA TOUR champion has finished in the top 10 twice in the last three years, too.

"I've won here before, and I know what it takes to win," Allenby said. "And I've done it the hard way, too, if you want to put it that way. But I don't think we're going to be hitting 3 woods into 18 come this Sunday.

"You know, last year I finished third; I probably should have won. I felt like I should have won. I was leading with about six or seven holes to go on the Sunday, and I just didn't quite finish it off.

"But look, I've got a lot of good memories here and this golf course sets up really well for me. ... "You know, there's a long way to go here. I'm happy with the way I've played so far. I left a lot of shots out there yesterday.

"But, you know, I'm happy that I made up some today and hopefully I can make up some more tomorrow and some more on Sunday."

Allenby, who will be paired with Mickelson on Saturday, says he has to concentrate on his own game. The left-hander came to Riviera playing well -- tying for sixth at the Buick Invitational and losing in a playoff at the FBR Open -- but Allenby has been known to throw a few low rounds out, too.

"Just remember, he is human," Allenby said. "He's human, so he can make mistakes, and that could happen over the weekend. Yeah, he might be four shots in front, but there's 36 holes to go, and, yeah, he's one of best players in the world and he's won a few majors. Obviously, he's playing well.

"But, you know, I know that I could shoot 6 , 7 under any given day around this golf course, because that's just the way it sets up for me. Really, it's just a matter of getting out of my own way and letting myself do it.

"The golf course sets up well for me, and I know that if I play the way I can play, there's no reason why I can't get up in front.