PHILIP WALTON failed to make the cut in the $1.5 million Bryon Nelson Classic in Texas yesterday. A solid round of 73 yesterday pushed him to 144 three shots outside the cut off point of 140.

However, David Feherty is safely through following his second successive round of 69 for, a total of 138, six shots behind, the leader, Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson heeded his caddie's advice en route to a five under par 65. Mickelson had five birdies in gusty winds at Cottonwood Valley, a course he had not previously played, to post an eight under 132 halfway total. He was one stroke in front of Corey Pavin (66), Mike Brisky (67) and Nick Price (66).

"I hadn't seen the course until today so I tried not to get overly aggressive," Mickelson said. "If tried to hit the ball where my caddie told me. I tried to hit the ball where I could see it.

Price, meanwhile, took another step on what he hopes is the road back to the world number one ranking. "I've been in contention a lot since August last year," said Price, who won two major championships in 1994 before his game went off the boil early last year as off course distractions took a toll on his practice time."

Eight strokes separated the 79 players who made at the cut at even par 140 and better. Among those to miss it were Players Championship winner Fred Couples and British Open champion John Daly.