GOLF: Phil Mickelson continued his astonishing early-season form by adding a six-under-par 66 to his opening 64 to grab a two-shot lead after yesterday's second round of the Doral Open in Florida.
The left-hander was on 14 under par, with Billy Andrade on his own in second after consecutive 66s, despite a bogey at the last.
Mickelson didn't drop a shot around the Blue Monster course at the Doral Resort in Miami, and finished the round in style with a birdie two at the short ninth, his last.
In a remarkably strong leaderboard, another Masters champion, Jose Maria Olazabal, also held his rejuvenated form to shoot a 69 to hold third place on his own at 11-under-par.
And the battle for the World number one spot continued with Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods hot on the heels of the leaders two shots further back.
Major winners South African Retief Goosen and American Jim Furyk were among a large group at eight under.
Stewart Cink produced the best early round of the day carding a seven-under 65 to rocket up the leaderboard but there was no shortage of spectacular play on the famous Blue Monster course.
Craig Parry, who eagled the first play-off hole to lift the title last year from Scott Verplank, fired a bogey free six-under 66 to vault into contention.
Meanwhile, Singh, who is battling to keep Woods from reclaiming the number one ranking, shook off his recent indifferent form to card a five-under 67.
Playing the back nine first, Woods had looked poised to run away with the early lead as he pulled two shots clear of the field after consecutive birdies on the 16th, 17th, 18th and the first.
But the eight-time major winner suddenly lost his way, giving back shots with bogeys on two, three and four before steadying himself with a birdie on five to finish with an unsatisfying two-under 70.
Leaderboard
Early leading scores
14 under - P Mickelson 64 66
12 under - B Andrade 66 66
11 under - JM Olazabal 64 69
10 under - B Mayfair 67 67
9 under - F Langham 68 67
V Singh 68 67
T Woods 65 70
D Toms 69 66
C Parry 69 66
