Phil Mickelson takes six shot lead - Bellsouth Classic 2006

The defending champion on Friday added a 7-under-par 65 to his course record-tying opening 63 at the TPC of Sugarloaf and holds a six-stroke lead over J.J. Henry after the second round of the $5.3 million BellSouth Classic.

"I felt I was trying to make birdie every hole," said Mickelson, who recorded seven birdies without a bogey. "Those rounds are few and far between for me, but I love them when they occur.

"I don't go into any round expecting to shoot 63 or 65. But I felt I was hitting the ball well, and making a couple of putts early set the tone for the day."

Mickelson's halfway total of 16-under 128 also set a tournament record.

Henry registered four birdies on the front nine and three on the back en route to a bogey-free 65. Playing late in the afternoon, Henry moved a shot ahead of Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal, whose morning 64 was the best round of the day.

Olazabal and Mickelson both teed off at 7:30 a.m. EST but on different halves. Each player birdied three of his first four holes, reached the turn in 32 strokes and quickly grabbed three more birdies.

The only difference came right at the end, with the Spanish star finishing things off with a two-putt birdie - his eighth of the round - at the par-5 18th.

"(Mickelson) must be playing really great golf," said Olazabal, who lost to the American in a playoff here last year. "It makes it difficult to catch him unless we play awesome.

"I still don't feel comfortable with my driver. But I putted better without question, and my attitude has been pretty good, which is important."

Australian Gavin Coles, one stroke behind Mickelson following an opening 64, carded a 72 and was alone in fourth, eight shots off the pace. Coles bogeyed three of the first seven holes before birdying Nos. 8, 13 and 16.

Mickelson is one of eight players with multiple wins in this event. He also won in 2000 and will be shooting to join Jack Nicklaus (1973-74) as the only repeat winners.

However, the talented lefthander may be better off without a victory. The last player to win a PGA Tour event and a major the following week was Sandy Lyle, who won the Greater Greensboro Open and The Masters in 1988.

"I hope I will continue to play well and take the momentum to Augusta next week," Mickelson said.

The par-72 course at Sugarloaf plays 7,293 yards. First prize is $954,000.