MIAMI, March 13 (UPI) -- Phil Mickelson had another good day on and around the greens Friday and grabbed a two-shot lead at the midway point of the WGC-CA Championship in Miami.
Mickelson, who holed out from off the green three times in the opening round Thursday, did so once more Friday while shooting a 6-under 66 that left him at 13-under 131 for two trips around the Doral Resort & Spa course. He needed only 23 putts after taking just 20 on Thursday.
"I've never chipped or hit bunker shots as well," Mickelson said. "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 it's ever been, I can't be any more excited."
Nick Watney was alone in second at 133 after firing a 67 Friday and Kenny Perry (64) shared third place at 134 with Northern Ireland teen star Rory McIlroy (66). Mickelson, Watney and Perry are all looking for their second win on the PGA Tour this year.
Tiger Woods, meanwhile, found himself far back in the pack in his first stroke-play event since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last June. He shot a 2-under 70 for a 141 total and was tied for 35th place. There have been 52 sub-70 rounds fired during the first two rounds of the tournament and Woods has not had any of them.
First-round co-leader Prayad Marksaeng (70), Camilo Villegas (68) and Rod Pampling (69) were tied for fifth at 135. Marksaeng was at the top of the leaderboard most of the day before making a triple-bogey late in his round.
