2006 Nissan Open Sabbatini Surges into Nissan Lead By Associated Press - February 17, 2006 PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- Once he could feel his toes on a frosty morning at Riviera, Rory Sabbatini was off and running Friday in the Nissan Open. Sabbatini overcame a sloppy start in frigid temperatures, then ran off five straight birdies around the turn and finished strong for a 6-under 65 that put him atop the leaderboard among the early starters. The South African was in the second group and faced temperatures in the 40s as the sun tried to climb above the mansions lining the fairways at Riviera. Starting on the 310-yard 10th hole, Sabbatini could barely grip the club and bladed a chip over the green to make bogey. "I couldn't feel my toes or my hands when I played it," Sabbatini said. "I hit a chip clear over the green. I even hit it clean over the back bunker. It was actually funny, walking on the 14th tee today, I looked at Tommy Armour and said, 'Yes, I can actually feel my toes again.' He had the same thought process." Sabbatini warmed up nicely, finishing two rounds at 10-under 132 that gave him a four-shot lead among the other players who also played before noon. Thomas Levet of France had another 68 and was at 6-under 136, along with Craig Barlow (69). U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman was among those another stroke back. Tiger Woods was among the late starters, still sick as he began his second round eight shots out of the lead. Sabbatini has been hot all year. He began the season at No. 71 in the world ranking, coming off a lackluster year on the PGA Tour that was defined by his meltdown at Congressional when he walked off the 17th green because he was tired of waiting on Ben Crane. Sabbatini has been doing his own yardage to help slow himself down. He also spent the offseason working on his fitness, and the combination has paid off handsomely. He was runner-up last week at Pebble Beach, although he never had a chance to catch Arron Oberholser. He also tied for second at the Sony Open in January when he shot 62 on the final day. In fact, his worst finish this year is a tie for 20th. "I've managed to find the energy to maintain my concentration out there and stay focused," Sabbatini said. Ernie Els didn't have much energy at all. Els also is battling flu symptoms in his '06 debut on the PGA Tour, and he had every reason to pack in it after going 3 over-par on his first three holes. But the Big Easy battled back for a 72 and was at even-par 142, leaving him on the cut line. With Woods having missed two cuts last year, Els has the longest active streak on the PGA Tour -- 24 consecutive tournaments in the money -- although that was in jeopardy. "I'm aware of that," he said of his cut streak. "I'm not trying to keep the cut streak alive, I was trying to get back in the tournament. My iron play let me down a little bit." David Duval is trying to get his mind off the cut line, and showed more improvement. Having had to play great golf to narrowly make the cut in Honolulu and Palm Springs, Duval got it to 5 under and was a brief presence on the leaderboard until he closed with two bogeys for a 72 that left him at 2-under 140. Sabbatini kept rolling along, even though he had to put up with greens that were bumpy as ever. Instead of complaining, he kept giving himself loads of chances and figured some of the putts would drop. "If you give yourself opportunities out there, putts inside 15 and 20 feet, you're going to make your fair share," he said. "That's what you have to do." He was missing his share early on, particularly the 5-footer on the 12th. But that's when his round took off. He made an 18-foot birdie on the 13th, holed out from off the green on the 15th, then made 20-foot birdie putts on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes before a two-putt birdie on No. 1 to finish off his streak. If left him in good shape heading into the weekend, a spot that is becoming more familiar. Divots: Most players going from the Nissan Open to the Match Play Championship at La Costa have only a 100-mile drive. For Ernie Els, the journey will be about 5,000 miles. Els is going to Hawaii on Sunday night for a news conference Monday to announce he is designing a golf course about 20 minutes outside Honolulu called Hoakalei Country Club. "I miss Hawaii and wanted to get back," he said with a smile. "Even if it's just for six hours." ... Sean O'Hair has been struggling all year, and was headed toward another missed cut Thursday when he three-putted from 7 feet on the sixth hole for double bogey. But he battled back to a 70, then followed with a 69 on Friday. ... John Daly shot 77 to miss the cut.