Mickelson Leads by 2, Woods Is 10 Back

DORAL, Fla., March 13 -- In 2005, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods staged one of the more mesmerizing final-round duels here at Doral. But after a second straight day of frustration for Woods on Friday, chances for a repeat performance dwindled considerably at the halfway mark of the $8.5 million CA Championship.

Mickelson, one of four first-round leaders, clearly held up his end, chipping in from off the green for the fourth time in 36 holes for one of his seven birdies in a round of 66 that left him at 13-under-par 131. He leads the World Golf Championship event by two shots over Californian Nick Watney (67-133), who remains bogey-free after 36 holes. Mickelson also has a 10-stroke lead over Woods (70-141) entering the weekend after the No. 1 player in the world again seemed a touch off with his putting stroke and off target on far too many approach shots.

That wasn't the case four years ago when Woods, trailing by two entering the final round, ultimately prevailed by a shot when Mickelson's chip from off the green on the 72nd hole to force a playoff lipped out of the cup. Mickelson said after his round Friday he would welcome the opportunity to go head-to-head with Woods again this week.

"It kind of sucks" that Woods is so far behind at the moment, Mickelson said, adding: "I hope he comes out [Saturday] and plays a great round and makes a move. I would love to get back from '05. I came close and got beat, and I would love the opportunity to play head-to-head. . . . I think we as players cannot wait for Tiger to get back on top of his game and hopefully be able to keep pace with him."

But unless Woods, playing in his first stroke-play event since undergoing left knee surgery last June, can concoct some serious weekend magic, Mickelson's weekend competition will come from a far different cast of characters.

That might also include the game's latest phenom, 19-year-old Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, a winner in Dubai this season on the European Tour and a player many believe is the most poised and polished teenage talent since Woods dominated the amateur ranks in the early 1990s.

With an eagle-birdie finish, McIlroy came in with a 66 that left him at 10-under 134. He was tied for third with 48-year-old veteran Kenny Perry, who posted the best score of the week, a bogey-free 64 finished off with two birdies in his last three holes.

"I've been playing well and it's a golf course that suits my eye," McIlroy said. "Hit it long and hit it high. . . . It's the way I enjoy playing. . . . I get a kick out of it when I'm trying to go for greens and trying to go for pins over water, yeah. . . . It's what I always wanted to do. I always wanted to get to this point, but I never thought I would do it so quickly."

Perry clearly was impressed seeing McIlroy's name so high up on the leader board.

"At 19, physically I could have played," he said. "But mentally, I could not have handled it out here."

Said McIlroy: "I feel very comfortable in it. I've been doing a lot of media since I was quite young back home, and I've become used to it. If you're doing well and people want to ask you questions, you'd rather be getting asked questions because you know you're doing well. . . . I know all the guys out here so I'm very comfortable."

Woods is not, at least at the moment.

"It's frustrating because you know the course could have been had today," Woods said following a round that included four birdies and two bogeys and a second straight day with 28 putts. He also said he had a sore right ankle because "I haven't walked in a while. I tell you what: I need that cart.

"I haven't hit too many shots pin high and I haven't played like this in a while in a tournament. Today felt a lot better than it did yesterday. . . . I'm starting to get a feel for being in that environment again. . . . It's just a matter of my getting a feel for the game. It's higher at this level than it is playing for five bucks at home in Isleworth."

Mickelson, meantime, is brimming with confidence these days. He won at Riviera in Los Angeles three weeks ago, posting rounds of 62 and 63 and he said that at the moment: "I can't be any more excited. As well as I'm driving it, to be hitting it as high and as far as I'm hitting it, with my short game being as good as its ever been, I can't wait for Augusta [and the Masters] to get here."

In addition to his four chip-ins from off the green this week, including a 35-footer at the seventh hole Friday, Mickelson's total of 42 putts over the first 36 holes (22 on Friday) is five fewer than he has ever had at the halfway point. But his length and relative accuracy off the tee has definitely improved his mind-set a month before the Masters.

"In the past, when I would hit it this hard, I would have a lot of big misses," he said. "I have more confidence in where the ball is going, even though I'm watching it up in the air into these crosswinds. I'm hitting more fairways, hitting it longer. This is perfect for Augusta. I'm not trying to do too much. I'm just standing up and ripping at it."