Golf: Mickelson flying high at the Phoenix

Masters champion Phil Mickelson shot an 11-under 60 to grab a share of the second-round lead at the Phoenix Open golf tournament yesterday, alongside South Korea's Kevin Na in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The left-hander, who made six bogeys 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 65, on nine-under 133.

Mickelson became only the 16th PGA player to shoot a 60 and birdied the last five holes to do so.

Only three other players have ever scored better, with a 59 - Al Geiberger, Chip Beck and David Duval.

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

Na, who is yet to win in the USA but who is ranked as a bright contender, shot a 65 in the second round. He, his father and manager escaped serious injury in a car accident on Thursday but his mother fractured a vertebrae and was unable to travel to watch her son play.

The accident, Na told reporters at the event, "kind of woke me up a little bit and brought me out of hibernation."

A group of eight players, including David Toms, former major winner Shaun Micheel, Steve Flesch, Kenny Perry and promising rookies Hunter Mahan and Hank Kuehne, lie a further shot adrift on five-under 137.

New Zealand's Craig Perks made the cut, shooting rounds of 74 and 70 to be two-over in a tie for 57th.

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

World No 1 Vijay Singh of Fiji faces an uphill battle to mount a serious challenge over the weekend after his one-over-par 72 left him a disappointing 10 shots off the pace.

- REUTERS