Golfing News

Phil Mickelson avoided misfortune that befell some of his opponents on Friday at the Doral Blue Monster course, and it meant he kept the lead at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship at the halfway mark in Miami.

Mickelson, the No. 3 player in the world rankings, made seven birdies, including a deft chip-in on his 16th hole of the day, against just one bogey, for a 66 that got him to 13-under par and gave up a 2-shot lead after 36 holes.

Nick Watney, author of a bogey-free 67, is two strokes back at 11-under. Kenny Perry, who shot a field low 64 on Friday, and Ireland’s 19-year-old phenom Rory McIlroy, who finished eagle-birdie to post a 66, are two back at 10-under.

Mickelson entered Friday tied at the top of the leaderboard with Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and India’s Jeev Milka Singh, but they encountered trouble on the diabolical, 467-yard par-4. Marksaeng found two bunkers and three-putted for a triple-bogey 7 and fell to 9-under after a 70 and is four shots behind Mickelson. And Singh finished his round bogey-double bogey and is at 8-under, five shots back.

Tiger Woods fought a balky putter again on Friday, and could manage no better than a 2-under 70 and is at 3-under in a tie for 35th. Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia seemed to break out of his mini-funk, following up a 73 with a 3-under 69 and is tied for 44th, 11 shots behind Mickelson.

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