HILTON HEAD ISLAND (South Carolina), April 20: Phil Mickelson shot a seven-under-par 64 Friday to equal the tournament 36-hole scoring record with a 13-under-par total of 129 to lead the WorldCom Classic after two rounds.
Entering the weekend, Mickelson holds a two-shot lead over 1997 British Open winner Justin Leonard and Davis Love III, a four-time winner of the event played on the par-71 Harbour Town Golf Links. Alone in fourth place at 10-under-par is two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen.
Cameron Beckman, who shot a nine-under 63, Billy Mayfair and Argentina’s Angel Cabrera are all at nine-under 133.
The 31-year-old Mickelson from Scottsdale, Arizona, is seeking to end a string of near misses.
He has finished third in three of his last four starts, including at last week’s Masters.
Mickelson’s second round exuded confidence, especially with his putting.
129 Phil Mickelson 65 64
131 Justin Leonard 67 64, Davis Love III 62 69
132 Lee Janzen 65 67 133 Cameron Beckman 70 63, Billy Mayfair 65 68, Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 66 67
135 Bob Tway 70 65, Neal Lancaster 70 65, Scott Verplank 67 68, Jim Furyk 70 65, Greg Norman (Australia) 66 69, Carlos Franco (Paraquay) 68 67, Billy Andrade 64 71, Chad Campbell 70 65, Heath Slocum 67 68
136 Bernhard Langer (Germany) 71 65, Jay Don Blake 70 66, David Frost (South Africa) 65 71, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Sweden) 69 67.—Reuters