MIAMI, March 5 (UPI) -- Retief Goosen continued an impressive streak of consistency Friday by taking the second-round lead at the Ford Championship.
The low-key South African carded six birdies and two bogeys for a 4-under-par 68 in testing winds at the Doral Country Club.
It was Goosen's 27th consecutive round of par or better, and his 9-under 135 total through 36 holes left him one shot ahead of Phil Mickelson (69), Todd Hamilton (68) and Craig Parry (65).
The top seven on the leaderboard played in the afternoon, when a strong wind abated and conditions eased. First-round leader Chris Smith double-bogeyed the tough, par-4 18th hole for the second straight day to plunge six shots off the pace after a 76.
At No. 7, Goosen is the highest-ranked player in the field.
Mickelson, second behind Vijay Singh on the PGA Tour money list, already has a win this season.
