Donald moving up in California

England's Luke Donald shot a second-round 66 to return to the clubhouse in third place at the Northern Trust Open in California.

Playing his second competitive round of the season, Donald hit seven birdies and two bogeys to sign for a five-under-par total and improve to seven under for the tournament.

Donald, who opened with a 69 yesterday, finished the second round two strokes behind Bae Sang-moon of South Korea at the head of the leaderboard.

Bae, who hit 65 today after a round that included nine birdies and three bogeys, leads the way on nine under overall at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades.

American John Merrick (66) sits second in the clubhouse on eight under, while South Africa's Charl Schwartzel (67) and America's Webb Simpson (66) are a stroke behind Donald at six under.

Fellow American Matt Kucharis the man to watch for the remainder of the day, however.

Kuchar produced a blemish-free seven-under-par 64 yesterday to lead by one overnight, but made a horror start to his round today when he required six shots at the par-four 10th hole - his first - before recovering with a par at the next.

Kuchar's early double-bogey at a hole he birdied yesterday dropped him to six under overall but with plenty of time to make up the three-stroke deficit to Bae.

England's Lee Westwood picked up two birdies over his first four holes today to move into contention at five under overall.