TORONTO, April 4: U.S. Masters champions Phil Mickelson and Jose Maria Olazabal rocketed up the leaderboard and into contention with sizzling second rounds at the rain-hit BellSouth Classic on Sunday, to sit one stroke back of clubhouse leader Scott McCarron. Mickelson confirmed his readiness to defend his Masters crown next week at Augusta rebounding from an opening round two-over 74 by carding a seven-under 65, the best round of the tournament so far at the TPC at Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia.

After wrapping up his first round with three consecutive pars, Mickelson returned to scorch the Greg Norman designed layout, mixing six birdies and an eagle with a single bogey to go five-under through 36 holes.

The American lefthander was joined at five-under 139 by twice Masters champion Olazabal, who had a wildly contrasting afternoon going four-over 40 on the front nine then equalling a course record with a seven-under 29 on the back to finish with a three-under 69.

McCarron, who has seen two of his three career PGA Tour wins come at the BellSouth, enhanced his a bid for a third on Sunday with birdies on three of his first four holes to finish with a second consecutive three-under 69 to go six-under 138.

Second round scores

138 Scott McCarron 69 69

139 Phil Mickelson 74 65, Jose Maria Olazabal 70 69, Billy Mayfair 68 71

140 Tag Ridings 72 68, Joey Snyder III 71 69, Brian Bateman 72 68, Arron Oberholser 72 68, Rich Beem 70 70

141 Bob Tway 71 70, Ryuji Imada 70 71, Brandt Jobe 72 69, Zach Johnson 75 66, J.L. Lewis 69 72, Retief Goosen 72 69, Frank Lickliter II 71 70.—AFP