Perry takes narrow advantage

Kerry Perry shot a six-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on Thursday.

Perry stands on 14-under-par 130 in the 90-hole event played over four courses.

Making his first start of the 2004 season, Phil Mickelson shot a nine-under-par 63 at Indian Wells Country Club to climb into a tie for second at 13-under-par 131 with joint first-round leader Skip Kendall (68) and Kirk Triplett (65).

Dean Wilson (65), Paul Azinger (65), Ben Crane (64), Chris Riley (64) and John Riegger (63) are two shots back of Perry at 12-under-par.

Defending champion Mike Weir (67) is seven-under-par through two rounds and is tied for 41st.

Perry played the back nine first and went out in one-under 35, but then made five birdies on the front en route to a 31.

Over the years Perry has enjoyed success at this event, with four top-10 finishes and a win in 1995.

In Thursday's second round at PGA West's Palmer Course, he struggled early, but eventually managed to record his 29th sub-70 round in 12 appearances.

"It was probably the best round I've ever played for as poor as I hit the golf ball," said Perry, who hit only six of 13 fairways.

"Normally I hit it pretty good and don't putt very well. The putter saved me today."

After a career-best season in 2003, one in which the 43-year-old won three times, had 10 top-10 finishes and earned more than $4.4 million, Perry has started this campaign slowly.

After finishing tied for 15th at the season-opening Mercedes Championships, Perry missed the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii -- his first missed cut since the middle of May.

After last week's missed cut, Perry sought help from swing coach Ron Green.

"We've been working on flattening my swing out and getting the club more underneath me a little bit," Perry said.

"Today for some reason, my timing was off. I didn't feel the feel of the head of the golf club or something.

"But I was not pulling it, I was hitting everything to the right, which is something that's pretty scary for me because I don't normally hit it right. My misses are usually left."

Perry was so concerned early in Thursday's round that he started using 2-irons and 3-woods just to put the ball in play on his front nine.

After gaining some confidence off the tee, Perry switched back to using a driver.

"Thank goodness the mental side of my game was good today," Perry said.

"I hung in there and started hitting some pretty good shots coming down the stretch on the front nine. It was a struggle for me out there. I battled."

Mickelson, ranked 16th in the world after a winless 2003 season, also knows about struggling with his last victory coming at the Greater Hartford Open over 18 months ago.

Last season he plummeted from second in the world rankings to his current position and had his worst year on the money list, finishing 38th, the first time he was out of the top 15 in six years and the top two in four years.

This week, Mickelson has already shown a different attitude and, with the loss of 15 pounds (7 kgs), appears to be ready for a fight back to a spot among the world's best.

"I'm very pleased with the progress the first two days of the year, the first two rounds of the year," said Mickelson, who has 13 birdies and one bogey over the first 36 holes.

"I feel like I've driven the ball very well and I feel much more confident from 134 yards in, which last year was a point of dissatisfaction."

The four par-72 courses being used for the event are PGA West, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes and La Quinta with the final round played at PGA West.

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