Phil Mickelson moves three clear with 65

Phil Mickelson tore through his first nine holes and scrambled to the finish to seize a three-stroke lead in the U.S. PGA Championship second round Friday after firing a five-under-par 65.

"It's early. I'm only halfway through," said American Mickelson, who needed just 25 putts on Baltusrol's fast greens before finishing at eight-under 132. "I made a lot of good putts."

Charging into second place was unheralded American Jerry Kelly, who birdied his last hole, the par-three ninth, by holing out from a bunker to finish at five under after shooting a 65 to match Mickelson for the tournament's low round.

Down but still alive was Tiger Woods, who started the week in the hunt for a third major win of the year and wound up claiming a small victory with a late charge that put him right on the cut line at four-over 144, 12 shots off the pace.

Mickelson, who broke through for his first major title at last year's U.S. Masters, took a big step toward notching his second as he broke out of a six-way tie for the lead with a rollercoaster round on another steamy day at Baltusrol.

Pars were at a premium for Mickelson, who posted seven birdies, an eagle, two bogeys and a double-bogey at the famed course, host to seven U.S. Opens.

Tied for third place at four-under 136 were former champion Davis Love (68), first-round co-leader Rory Sabbatini of South Africa (69) and Briton Lee Westwood (68).

Defending champion Vijay Singh of Fiji was poised to join the group at four under before he lost a stroke at his last hole, the ninth, when he found the greenside rough. He shot 67 for a 137 total and stood five shots back.

Level with Singh at three under were Australian Stuart Appleby, who carded a 70, Briton Greg Owen (69), Sweden's Jesper Parnevik (69) and Shingo Katayama of Japan (66).

South African Retief Goosen, last year's U.S. Open champion, was a further stroke back after returning a level-par 70. He was joined at 138 by South Korean Yang Yong-Eun (67) and Australians Steve Elkington (70) and Geoff Ogilvy (69).

The 29-year-old Woods, though notably absent from the leaderboard, was still in the tournament after clawing his way to the cut line with a do-or-die birdie at the 18th hole.

The U.S. Masters and British Open champion was in danger of ending his streak of making the cut in all 35 majors he has played as a pro when he reached the turn on Friday at seven over par after four bogeys and two birdies on the front side.

Birdies at the 11th, 12th and 15th holes lifted him to four over and he looked safe as he headed to the finishing pair of par-fives.

Woods, however, bogeyed the mammoth, 650-yard 17th after lipping out a 10-foot putt to save par.

Needing a birdie to qualify for weekend play, the world number one crushed his drive at the 554-yard last, put a seven-iron safely on the green and two-putted for birdie.

"I grinded it out and did the best I could all day," said a relieved Woods, who joined 78 others in making the cut for the last two rounds.

Mickelson, who started on the 10th hole, capped a brilliant first nine by curling in a 15-foot putt for eagle at the 18th to go five under for the day, including a stretch of three birdies in four holes.

The eagle lifted the affable American to eight under for the tournament and into a three-shot lead, but he gave two shots right back when his sliced tee shot at number one led to a double-bogey six.

Mickelson recovered to birdie numbers three and five, and balanced a bogey at the sixth with a birdie at the eighth for his 65.

"I think the thing I'm most proud of about today's round is that on this course everybody's going to make mistakes and sometimes it's hard to forget about it and let it go," said Mickelson.

"After I made a double on one, I was able to be patient and let it go and come back with birdies on three and five. When I bogeyed six, I was able to let it go and come back with a birdie on eight."

Mickelson said he was relaxed, comfortable and enjoying the boisterous support he has received from the galleries.

"I'm feeling confident after the first two rounds, but certainly there's a lot of golf left," he added.

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