SAN DIEGO — Golfers like to pull a few blades of grass and toss them into the air to gauge the wind before hitting a shot.

That would explain any grass floating in the Pacific Ocean during Thursday’s second round of the Farmers Insurance Open.

Santa Ana winds that gusted up to 30 mph at Torrey Pines created conditions that ranged from concerning to comical.

“It’s one of those days where the weather has the full control of the ball, you just have to hang on,” Brendan Steele said.

First-round co-leader Sam Ryder seemed oblivious to it all, grabbing the lead outright with a 4-under 68 on the South Course, one day after opening with an 8-under 64 on the North. He is 12-under for the tournament at its halfway point.

“The thing I’ve been kind of telling myself is to just try and embrace it,” said Ryder, holding a 36-hole lead for the first time in 147 starts on the PGA Tour. “It’s not a position that I’ve been in a lot, you know, so just trying to enjoy it. It’s kind of why we play, so just trying to look around and enjoy the moment.”

A player very familiar with the lead, world No. 3 Jon Rahm, was on the verge of missing the cut before shooting 5-under on his final five holes on the North to finish with a 67.

Rahm is eight shots off the lead, but still has a chance to win his third straight start.

Ryder is three shots up on Steele, his playing partner, who will remain paired with Ryder for the third round after shooting 70.

They will be joined by Argentina’s Tano Goya. He is in third place, five shots behind Ryder, after shooting 67 on the North Course. Goya shared the low round of the day with Rahm.

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