Late birdies pull Micheel two clear

Shaun Micheel surged two shots clear of the field after Phil Mickelson, co-leader overnight, twice found water to surrender a three-shot cushion in the second round of the U.S. PGA Championship on Friday.

With only five players in the 151-strong field breaking par in difficult conditions at sun-baked Oak Hill, Micheel birdied four of his last five holes for a 68, finishing at three-under 137.

The 33-year-old American, who is ranked 169th in the world, bounced back from a double-bogey six at the 323-yard 14th by covering the first nine, his second, in three-under 32.

Left-hander Mickelson slumped to a 75 for 141 and Tiger Woods ground out a 72 for 146. Mike Weir, who threw away a two-stroke lead with bogeys on his last two holes, carded a 71 to tie for second at one under with Billy Andrade (72).

Australia's Rod Pampling, joint-leader overnight with Mickelson after a first-round 66, was alone in fourth at 140 after returning a 74 as the wind swirled and the greens hardened at the East Course.

Seventy players made the halfway cut at eight-over 148, with world number one Woods extending his run of consecutive PGA Tour cuts to 108. Only Byron Nelson, with 113 during the 1940s, has made more.

Twelve players broke par on Thursday, when the first round was largely unaffected by the largest power outage in North American history, but that figure was always likely to drop on day two with Oak Hill drying out in hot and humid conditions.

"I was thrilled with shooting one-under (69) yesterday and felt, if I could play like I did then, and with the putter, I could have a nice tournament," Micheel, 34, told reporters.

"I was a little bit more nervous than I thought I was going to be today but I hit some nice shots coming in and made some nice putts."

Micheel, whose wife Stephanie is 25 weeks pregnant, is playing in only the third major of his career.

Canadian Weir, who became the first left-hander to win a major in 40 years at the U.S. Masters in April, was steady for most of the day through a mix of four birdies, five bogeys and several clutch putts before his stumbling finale.

"It wasn't the finish I was looking for but that's this golf course," said Weir. "You miss a shot a little bit off-line and it's going to bite you."

Woods, who teed off towards the back of the field, picked up his first shot at the par-five fourth but he faltered at the par-four fifth, missing the fairway off the tee and failing to get up and down after laying up short.

The 27-year-old American scrambled well at the 461-yard seventh, missing the fairway off the tee and finding a greenside bunker with his approach before holing a par-saving putt from 20 feet.

Having begun the day eight off the lead, he had cut the deficit to six before two dropped shots in his last three holes left him at six over, nine behind Micheel.

"I made my way around the golf course pretty good until the end," said Woods, who is bidding this week for his ninth major but first since last year's U.S. Open.

"But I made bogey at 16 and bogey at 18, both with wedges in my hand, which is pretty disappointing.

"I didn't control my distances well today and unfortunately never put myself in position to make birdie putts.

"You just know you will have to be very patient, and if you can somehow get back to near par, you'll have a chance of winning the tournament."

Mickelson, chasing his first major in his 46th attempt, had birdied the par-five fourth to move three ahead of the field in mid-afternoon.

But the 33-year-old American then double-bogeyed the 428-yard fifth after hitting his approach into Allen's Creek, and also the par-four seventh, where he located water off the tee, to slide back to one under.

Following a run of six pars around the turn, Mickelson bogeyed the par-four 14th and the treacherous 17th to fade into a share of fifth on 141, one over.

"I really thought today was a day I was going to be able to take advantage of some good play and make some birdies," said Mickelson.

"The big difference for me today was when I missed the driver, it was to the right, and I didn't make any putts."

Andrade, 39, the second alternate at the start of the week, was delighted with a battling effort that featured five bogeys and three birdies.

"It's got to the point where you feel like you're just trying to survive," he said. "I felt like I survived today.

"I'm under par after two days, I like my chances and can't wait for the weekend."

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