Buick Invitational

Jason Gore is within striking distance of leader Camilo Villegas (Photo: Eddie Meeks).

But you don’t have to be a Southern Californian to know the most logical way to climb the leaderboard during the first half of the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines – survive the treacherous South Course, and go low on the easier North Course.

Charley Hoffman, Paul Goydos and Jason Gore each did just that. That trio had solid Thursdays on the South Course, then came to the North Course Friday and went low enough to get within striking distance of leader Camilo Villegas. Hoffman is alone in third, Goydos is tied for fourth and Gore is in a five-way logjam for sixth place.

Gore, a Valencia resident who said following his round that he has been struggling with back problems for the first time in his life, made four birdies and one bogey to get into a tie for sixth at five-under par.

“It was hard fought. My back’s been kind of wrenching me for a while,” said Gore, who was born in Van Nuys and attended Pepperdine. “My putter started to work a little bit and I made some great par saves. It’s just comfortable being in Southern California. I love it here.”

Still one of the more charismatic figures on the PGA Tour, Gore had missed the cut in his first two events of 2009 prior to this week. He has conditional status on Tour this year after finishing outside the top 125 on the money list last year, when he recorded only three top-10 finishes. Gore has only 10 top-10 finishes in his last 91 events, making the cut in 47 of those tournaments.

Back issues may be bothering him now, but those pale in comparison to what the former champion of the 84 Lumber Classic experienced early last year – he was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, which is one of the most common forms of hyperthyroidism.

While Gore has had physical ailments, Goydos has had to deal with the death of his ex-wife Wendy, who passed away in early January. Her cause of death has not been disclosed, and the Coto de Caza resident has kept the matter private.

This week, in his first PGA Tour event of 2009, the focus has been squarely on his golf. The Long Beach State graduate backed up an even-par 72 on the South with a six-under 66 on the North that included six birdies on the front nine.

“I took advantage of the holes on the North Course that you need to take advantage of, and I parred the holes where you need to make pars,” said Goydos, who has an equipment deal with TaylorMade this year and is no longer donning his university’s baseball cap that was a hot topic during his memorable run at The Players Championship last year.

When asked if it’s been tough coming back, Goydos said he was happy to be doing his job.

“I enjoy playing golf. It’s what I do,” he said.

It seems Hoffman has been enjoying his job lately, too. The Poway native, who lost in a playoff to Kenny Perry last week at the FBR Open, showed off his local knowledge of the North Course Friday with a 66 that vaulted him into third place by himself at seven-under par.

He’s played Torrey Pines so many times that he wouldn’t even venture a ballpark number of rounds. Elite Tour players always have the four majors circled on their calendar; but no matter how high Hoffman climbs the world rankings, it’s safe to say he’ll always have a soft spot for the Buick.

“This is my major. I’m not in any majors this year. This is the tournament I want to win, and hopefully I win this and get into a few more majors,” he said.

The winner of the 2007 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic hasn’t fired up the Buick galleries all that much in the past – he’s made the cut in his three starts at Torrey as a PGA Tour member, but has never seriously contended. His best finish was a tie for 16th in 2006.

But he thinks he’s a different player this year.

“I think I control all my emotions a little better now than I used to,” Hoffman said. “All in all, I’m a more mature player. I was always able to make birdies, just not keeping the bogeys off the card – and two bogeys on these two golf courses is pretty good for me.”

The 32-year-old, who gives the impression of having a laid-back attitude because of his flowing blond mane, said his playoff loss last week made him even more determined this week.

“It gave me a little more incentive to come out here. It burned a little fire underneath me,” Hoffman said.