Steve Stricker birdied the 18th hole Friday to take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the Regions Tradition - the PGA Tour Champions major he has dominated in recent years - in Alabama with Padraig Harrington three shots back at the halfway point.
Stricker is a three-time winner of the event, including in 2022 and 2023, with a six-shot final margin every time. After posting a seven-under 65 at Greystone Golf and Country Club, he finds himself at 12-under, one shot better than South Africa's Ernie Els.
The first round concluded Friday after a weather delay ended Thursday's action early. Six players shared the lead after posting first-round 65s - Els, Steve Flesch, Chris DiMarco, Doug Barron, Kenny Perry and Dublin's Harrington.
Stricker was two off the pace after an opening 67, and he began his second round with four birdies and two bogeys over his first six holes. After settling in, he turned in five more birdies for a back-nine 31.
Harrington endured an up and down day with his 70 scorecard containing six birdies and four bogeys to leave him back on nine-under par.
Stricker did not want to think ahead to the possibility of a three-peat.
"Just trying to play good," he said. "I enjoy it here. I feel good going around here. I'm just trying to, you know, that old cliché of just taking one shot, one hole at a time kind of thing."
Els followed his opening 65 with a second-round 68 that included two birdies on each side. He has yet to make a bogey through 36 holes.
The former world No. 1 racked up four major titles in his career, but he's searching for his first on the 50-and-older circuit. Els tied for second behind Stricker at last year's Tradition, tied for third in 2022 and tied for fourth in 2021.
"I'm playing with in good company. Steve Stricker is obviously the king around here at the moment," Els said.
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