Mickelson grabs lead with round of 60

Masters champion Phil Mickelson shot a blistering 11-under-par 60 to grab a share of the second-round lead at the Phoenix Open with South Korea's Kevin Na in Scottsdale, Arizona on Friday.

The left-hander, who made six bogeys in testing conditions in his opening round 73, grabbed nine birdies and an eagle to equal the course record and leap 39 places up the leaderboard to join Na, who shot a six-under-par 65, on nine-under-par 133.

"It was a wonderful day, no complaints here," Mickelson said. "It was a lot easier today than with the wind.

"The greens are so fast that yesterday with the wind, it made it very difficult to putt and I got off to a poor start to be four-over (par).

"But I think the key to today's round was really hanging in there on yesterday's back nine and getting a couple of birdies, getting it back to two-over.

"Doing that allowed me a chance to shoot a round like this and have it mean something, have it get me up into contention.

"I wouldn't say the course is easy because the rough is thick and the greens are very fast, but it was extremely tough yesterday.

Mickelson had a scorching end to his round with birdies on this final five holes to narrowly miss out on a piece of golfing history, finishing one stroke shy of the PGA Tour record of 59 for 18 holes, shared by David Duval, Al Geiberger and Chip Beck.

He did shoot 59 in last November's two-round Grand Slam of Golf, a non tour event, and Annika Sorrenstam is the only woman to match the score on the LPGA.

"I birdied the last five to shoot 60, I never had a chance to shoot 59 unless I holed a shot from the fairway, which I really didn't consider much," Mickelson added.

"It feels terrific to shoot 60 to get back in the tournament. I would have taken 65 and been ecstatic because I would be four-under and be within four or five of the lead going into the weekend.

"Instead I'm near the lead if not on top of it because I love this tournament. I've only won it once. It was exciting coming down the stretch in the last group with the people here.

"Last year I was able to be in the last group, and it was an awesome feeling even though I wasn't able to come through with a win, but I'd love to get in that last group again."

Mickelson and Na will begin Saturday's third round three shots clear of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer of Germany and American Michael Allen, who both fired 66.

A group of eight players, including David Toms and Kenny Perry, lie a further shot adrift on five-under-par 137.

Overnight leader Dudley Hart slumped into a tie for 24th after following up Thursday's 67 with a disappointing two-over-par 73.

World number one Vijay Singh of Fiji faces an uphill battle to mount a serious challenge over the weekend after his one-over-par 72 left him 10 shots off the pace at 143.

Defending champion Jonathan Kaye faces a similar task after a second round 69 could only lift him back to par for the tournament and nine shots behind the leaders.

Among those failing to make the cut was Justin Leonard, winner of last week's Bob Hope Classic.

Leonard, who shot a second round one-over 72 to miss the 145 cut by a single stroke.

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