What on earth is happening? Yesterday, not for the first time, Phil Mickelson donned his Superman cloak.

On a TPC at Sugarloaf course located in the leafy suburbs of Duluth, north of Atlanta, measuring all of 7,343 yards, the two-time major champion - using the BellSouth Classic as a tune-up for next week's US Masters - destroyed the course and sprung clear of the field to eye up his first title of the season.

By the time Mickelson rolled in his 31st putt in a second round that took a total of 65 strokes, giving him a tournament record low score of 16-under-par 128 for 36-holes, the body language was all that of the old Phil: toothy grins, hand running through his hair, and languid gait. "It's going to be difficult for anyone to catch him, unless we play awesome golf on the weekend," remarked Jose Maria Olazabal of the task facing the field in pursuing the runaway leader.

Without a win since the US PGA last August, Mickelson - who opened with a course record equalling 63 on Thursday - has grabbed the $5.3 million tournament by the scruff of the neck, seeking to become the first three-time winner of the tournament.

"It's not the easiest thing to do," observed Mickelson of following up one low round with another, adding: "On the other hand, when you're playing well and have confidence . . . I was trying to make birdie every hole, rather than fighting for par."

On a day when the wind picked up just as the midway leader finished his round, but perfectly timed for the second tranche of starters which included Padraig Harrington, Mickelson - who set the trend by birdieing three of his opening four holes - could make some plans for social engagements. Like driving down to an old friend for dinner in Athens, Georgia, last evening, and making plans to go to an ice hockey game after his third round.

In relaxed mood, Mickelson remarked: "I think right now what I want to do is continue to play well over the week and take that momentum over to Augusta.

"Playing this well the first two days means a lot to me . . . you never know if the putts are going to drop, if you're going to read them right. It's kind of come together (here)."

Olazabal's second round 64 for 135 left him on nine-under-par, seven shots adrift of Mickelson and positioned as the American's closest pursuer.

Olazabal's bogey-free round featured eight birdies, requiring only 25 putts.

"I made a lot of putts, that was the key," said the Spaniard, adding: "It's hard to predict what will happen, we've seen many things (in the past). But at the moment, Phil is playing wonderfully."

While Mickelson took control of the tournament, Harrington continued to make steady progress up the leaderboard until he reached the 12th, a picturesque par four with water lining the fairway down the left.

Two-under for his round at that juncture, putting him six-under for the tournament (and positioned in tied-fifth), the Dubliner - missing the fairway for only the third time in his round - pulled his tee shot into hazard.

It got worse. After taking a penalty drop, and with 152 yards to the pin, Harrington's approach came up short and finished up in the water hazard in front of the green. Another penalty drop ensued, and he finished up with a quadruple bogey eight, plunging back down the leader board. However, immediately demonstrating his mental strength, Harrington's response was to birdie the 13th and 14th holes.

The other Irishman in the field, Graeme McDowell, also suffered water problems of his own for a second day running at the 18th. Fighting to make his first cut of the season, McDowell opted to lay up on the par five 18th, his ninth hole, but his approach hit the bank in front of the green and rolled back into the hazard.

He took a double bogey seven, moving to two-over par for the tournament and in danger of missing a fifth successive strokeplay cut.

"The past few weeks have been the toughest I've had on tour since 2003, as tough as I have experienced," said McDowell, who had an unwanted three-week break from tour play due to "confusion" over his rights to play in the Bay Hill Invitational and then failing to make the field for the Players Championship. 128 - P Mickelson 63 65.

135 - J M Olazabal (Spn) 71 64.

137 - C Warren 65 72.

138 - D Waldorf 72 66, I Poulter (Brit) 66 72.

139 - D Hart 70 69, D Howell (Brit) 67 72, B Gay 70 69, Z Johnson 69 70, J Durant 66 73, C Smith 69 70.

140 - L Mize 71 69, D Love 71 69, M Dawson 72 68, B Summerhays 68 72.

141 - A Cejka (Ger) 71 70, W Short 69 72, D Barron 74 67.

142 - D Wilson 70 72, F Jacobson (Swe) 70 72, S O'Hair 72 70, A Oberholser 70 72, T Clark (Rsa) 73 69, T Byrum 69 73, J Smith 70 72.

143 - S Leaney (Aus) 68 75, S McCarron 72 71, D Toms 75 68, J Kaye 73 70, S Lowery 72 71, R Garrigus 75 68, T van der Walt (Rsa) 75 68.

144 - H Tanaka (Jpn) 75 69, G Chalmers (Aus) 73 71, K Na 73 71, J Brehaut 69 75, M Gronberg (Swe) 71 73.

145 - B Tway 71 74, R Sabbatini (Rsa) 73 72, O Browne 72 73, B Jobe 73 72, DJ Trahan 69 76, J Mills 73 72.

146 - C Riley 73 73, J Driscoll 76 70, B Bateman 71 75, M A Jimenez (Spn) 71 75, K Cox 71 75.

147 - M Goggin (Aus) 74 73, K Sutherland 77 70, N O'Hern (Aus) 70 77.

149 - V Veazey 74 75.

153 - P Goydos 72 81, S Bowditch (Aus) 76 77.

155 - C Perks (Nzl) 77 78.

159 - Jeff Amershadian 80 79.

Withdrew: Paul Azinger