Taniguchi takes narrow advantage

Brad Faxon and Scott McCarron can share plenty of memories about Riviera Country Club when they play in the final threesome Saturday at the Nissan Open.

McCarron played college golf down the street at UCLA, and he played the historic course about once a month -- as long as rival USC wasn't at Riviera. Five years ago, McCarron played in the final group when Nick Faldo won.

``This is one of my favorite golf courses,'' he said after a 65 in the second round.

Faxon feels the same way, especially since Riviera was the scene of his greatest round on the PGA Tour. He went out in 28 and finished with a 63 in the 1995 PGA Championship, giving him a fifth-place finish and just enough points to make the Ryder Cup team.

``I played the best round of my life -- ever,'' Faxon said after his 67.

The other guy in their group -- who happens to be the leader -- is Toru Taniguchi of Japan. He had his first bogey of the tournament when he missed the green on No. 18, but still had a 67 and, at 133, led by one stroke over Faxon, McCarron, Jesper Parnevik and Len Mattiace.

Taniguchi probably won't join in the stories because he doesn't speak much English, nor does he have much history at Riviera.

But he knows it well enough to find his way around, and he is hitting the ball well enough to win, which would be the best way for him to get his PGA Tour card without having to go through qualifying school.

``I'm very happy and surprised to be in front,'' Taniguchi said.

No one should be surprised by his game.

The 32-year-old from Japan hasn't even dominated on his home circuit, and says he doesn't consider himself nearly as good as fellow Japanese player Toshi Izawa and some of the others who are slowly making a name for themselves on the PGA Tour.

Still, Taniguchi starred in his first appearance in a World Golf Championship. He went to Australia last year and promptly knocked off Bob Estes, Vijay Singh, Stuart Appleby and Shigeki Maruyama in the Match Play Championship.

He finally was beaten in the semifinals, 2 and 1, by eventual winner Steve Stricker, but bounced back to beat a lethargic Ernie Els in the consolation match.

They call him the ``Japanese Tiger'' at home for all the wrong reasons.

It's not because of his length, power or any other aspect of his game. It's not because of his record -- only three career victories, although he had nine top-10 finishes in 20 events on the Japanese tour.

Taniguchi, like Tiger Woods, prefers to wear red shirts on Sunday. He also tends to celebrate birdies with a fist pump.

A victory might help him really earn his stripes.

``America is the top tour in the world. All the players are in the top class,'' he said. ``That's a big difference from Japan. I'm satisfied winning Japan, but not totally satisfied. I'm trying to win in the U.S.''

That will be no small task this weekend.

Typical of Riviera and its small, knobby greens, just about everyone who has a tee time on Saturday has a chance to hold up the trophy on Sunday.

The cut was at even-par 142, only a nine-shot difference from top to bottom.

``This tournament always seems to have guys bunched up,'' McCarron said.

David Duval was only three strokes back at 136 after a 69, and he's always dangerous when he comes back from a break. This one was only three weeks, but Duval felt recharged and excited to be playing.

``I want to be hungry to be playing,'' he said. ``I don't come out here to finish 30th.''

Robert Allenby gets to finish, and that puts an end to a dubious streak on the PGA Tour. The Aussie avoided becoming the fifth straight defending champion to miss the cut, playing his final three holes in 3 under for a 66 that put him at 139.

John Daly had a 69 and also was at 139, while Sergio Garcia (67) was another shot back.

Still, Taniguchi appears to be in control.

He had five birdies on Friday, and only one of them was longer than 8 feet.

Faxon, meanwhile, is regarded as one of the best putters on tour, and his 40-footer for birdie on the 238-yard fourth hole served up proof of that. Better yet, he has a knack for pitching in this week -- a 70-yarder on No. 11 in the first round, and a 40-yard pitch he holed for birdie Friday on No. 7.

And if Mattiace can start Saturday the way he finished, he could be in position for his first PGA Tour victory. Mattiace closed out his second round with four straight birdies.

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