Phil Mickelson extends lead to four shots

Phil Mickelson kept up his inspired form at the $5.3 million Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California on Friday, carding a five-under 67 to take a four-stroke lead over fellow left-hander Mike Weir after the second round.

World number four Mickelson, who began the day with a three-shot advantage after opening up with a tournament record 10-under 62, continued to shine in steady drizzle at the Poppy Hills Golf Club, one of three courses being used this week.

After pars on his opening two holes, the 10th and 11th, the U.S. Masters champion reeled off five birdies in seven holes.

Mickelson, who won at Pebble Beach in 1998, returned his first bogey of the week at the short sixth before closing with a birdie at the ninth to finish with a 36-hole tournament record total of 15-under 129.

Fresh from a five-stroke victory at last week's Phoenix Open which included a course record-equalling 11-under 60, Mickelson has posted 35 birdies and an eagle in his last five rounds.

Mickelson led by six strokes in California until Canadian Weir ended his round with three consecutive birdies to register a five-under 67.

"He (Mickelson) is on fire, he's playing great golf," said Weir, the 2003 U.S. Masters champion.

"I got off to a great start today, then had a couple of bogeys but birdied my last three holes, a great way to finish."

Paul Goydos, Kevin Sutherland and Andrew Magee were two shots further back on nine-under 135 while Britain's Darren Clarke, playing here for the first time, headed a group of five players on eight-under.

Kent Jones had the day's top round, a seven-under 65, to vault up the leaderboard and join Clarke, India's Arjun Atwal, Charles Howell III and Britain's Greg Owen on 136.

It was another frustrating day for world number one and defending champion Vijay Singh, who struggled to a second successive one-over 73.

The lanky Fijian will have to produce a much better effort on Saturday or he will be in danger of missing the cut for the first time since last year's Buick Invitational.

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