Phil Mickelson spectacularly eagled the par-five 17th on his way to a share of the lead with Ireland’s Padraig Harrington in the Nissan Open second round on Friday.
Masters champion Mickelson rolled in a 15-foot putt to join Harrington at the top of the leader board before completing a six-under-par 65 on a sun-baked day at Riviera Country Club.
Harrington, three shots clear overnight, made an erratic start but recovered to shoot a 68 for an 11-under total of 131.
American Charles Howell III, who lost a playoff here in 2003, was a further three strokes back in third after carding a bogey-free 65 in the calmer conditions of the morning.
Left-hander Mickelson, tied for second at the start of the day, maintained his red-hot form with a commanding display on a tight, tree-lined course running fast and firm.
He birdied the first and sixth to reach the turn in two-under 33 and picked up further shots at the 11th, 13th and 14th to get to 10 under overall.
Although he ran up his first bogey of the week at the par-three 16th where he found the right bunker off the tee, he hit back in style by reaching the 17th green in two and coolly sinking the eagle putt.
Hot favourite this week after cruising to a five-shot victory at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Sunday, Mickelson parred the last to retain a share of the lead.
”I just flushed it,” Mickelson told reporters of his second shot at the 17th. ”It came off perfect, ended up in the middle of the green and I made the putt.
‘A great day to play golf’
”It was a great day to play golf. The weather was perfect, the course is in great shape, the greens are firm and I was able to make some birdies.
”I really like the way I’m putting the ball in play,” added the 36-year-old Californian, who said last week at Pebble Beach he had never driven the ball better.
Harrington, who spread-eagled the field with a superb opening 63, produced a roller-coaster outward nine that featured three bogeys and four birdies on a course running fast and firm.
He steadied his game after the turn, picking up further shots at the first and sixth, where he coaxed in a 15-footer, to finish level with Mickelson.
”I’m happy enough,” Harrington said. ”It’s always hard to follow up a good round like my 63 yesterday and anything in the sixties was really the goal today. It’s a tough golf course.
”I knew going out I would be a little erratic as it’s still early in the season for me. I’m still making mental errors here and there but I put up with that and made some birdies coming in.”
Further down a high-quality leader board, Spaniard Sergio Garcia (68), Britain’s David Howell (68), Australia’s Robert Allenby (66) and American Pat Perez (69) were tied for fourth at seven under.
Among the other big names, 1999 champion Ernie Els (68) was at five under, level with world number two Jim Furyk (70).
Although one player was still out on the course when play was suspended for the day in fading light, the halfway cut fell at one-over 143.
Among those missing out were former major winners Justin Leonard, Todd Hamilton and David Duval and Britain’s Luke Donald, the world number eight. – Reuters