Chad Campbell moves four shots clear

American Chad Campbell moved four shots clear after the Bob Hope Classic second round on Thursday, while overnight leader Pat Perez fell back in gusting winds.

Three off the pace at the start of the day, the in-form Campbell fired a flawless six-under-par 66 at La Quinta Country Club before finishing on 15-under 129.

By contrast, Perez dropped five shots in the first 11 holes but battled to a 73 and a tie for second with Australia's John Senden, who fired a sparkling 63 at PGA West, one of four par-72 courses being used in rotation this week.

Of the bigger names playing in the PGA Tour's second full-field event of the season, twice winner Phil Mickelson moved ominously into contention, a 69 lifting him into a share of sixth place at nine under.

Campbell, chasing the third PGA Tour title of his career, picked up shots at the fifth, sixth and eighth to reach the turn in three-under 33.

Despite the strengthening winds in the Coachella Valley on the second day of the 90-hole tournament, the 31-year-old Texan then birdied 10, 13 and 17 to strengthen his grip.

"I played great again today and hit a lot of good shots," Campbell told reporters. "I drove it in the fairway a lot, gave myself plenty of opportunities and was able to make a few putts.

"But it was kind of gusty out there. You would play a few holes that didn't have much wind and all of a sudden it's blowing at 20 miles per hour (33 km per hour)."

Campbell, joint runner-up at last week's Sony Open in Hawaii, is well aware of the Bob Hope Classic's reputation for being a birdie-fest.

"You've got to make so many birdies out here, you really want to limit the bogeys as much as possible," he said.

"It always seems 25 or 30 under (par) wins here. You've got to avoid the string of bogeys than can really set you back."

Perez, who became the 20th player in PGA Tour history to shoot a score of 60 or less in Wednesday's opening round, made a stumbling start at the difficult Classic Club, the host venue this week.

He hit his opening tee shot into water and was four over for the day with seven holes to play before rallying with four birdies after the turn.

However, he spoiled his fightback by finding water with his approach at the last, a bogey-six there dropping him to 11 under overall.

"It's hard to be grinding, making pars and just seeing these guys making birdie after birdie on the other courses," said Perez, who is bidding for his maiden PGA Tour title.

"The guys on the board here just weren't making a move. Everyone else is four under, five under."

Australia's Steve Elkington, winner of the 1995 U.S. PGA Championship, ended the day in a tie for fourth with American Olin Browne. Elkington returned a 70 at PGA West while Browne carded a 69 at La Quinta Country Club.

Canadian Mike Weir, whose victory at the 2003 Bob Hope Classic paved the way for his U.S. Masters triumph three months later, also shot a 69 at La Quinta for a 36-hole total of eight-under 136.

The first four days of the tournament are played in a pro-am format, with the leading 70 professionals and ties advancing into Sunday's final round at the Classic Club.