Mickelson extends lead at Pebble Beach

Phil Mickelson birdied five of his first nine holes to take a four-shot lead after Friday's second round of the 5.3 million dollar Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Starting on the back nine, Mickelson looked like he was on his way to another historic round after shattering the record at the Spyglass Hill course with a 10-under-par 62 on Thursday. In the second round, the defending Masters champion carded a pair of pars before firing five birdies in seven holes.
The 1998 champion here, Mickelson had more trouble on his final nine.
Mickelson had his first bogey of the tournament on the par-3 sixth and did not have a birdie until the par-5 ninth to complete a round of 5-under 67.
"I really didn't have great chances. It was playing a lot harder," Mickelson said. "I thought the front side, which was my back, played a lot harder.
"When the pins are elevated on the top shelf, it's much harder to get the ball close."
While he didn't set another course record, Mickelson was able to rewrite some tournament history, breaking the 36-hole scoring mark by two shots. Matt Gogel (2001) and Pat Perez (2002) shared the old record, although neither went on to win the tournament.
"The record depends on the weather and so forth. If we have good conditions we are going to shoot low," Mickelson said. "I'm just trying to win. I would love to win this tournament."
Canadian Mike Weir, another lefthander and former Masters champion, fired a 67 at Pebble Beach and is second at 11-under 133.
He finished strong with birdies on his final three holes to rebound from an erratic front nine.
Weir started with birdies on three of his first four holes but finished with bogeys on the eighth and ninth.
He started the back nine with six consecutive pars before getting hot to close out the round.
"I played solid all the way through till the last three and then had a great finish for the day," Weir said.
Mickelson is picking up where he left off last week.
Kevin Sutherland, Paul Goydos and Andrew Magee are tied for third at 9-under 135. Magee and Goydos each shot 68 and Sutherland a 70.
Darren Clarke and Charles Howell III headline a group of five tied for sixth at 136.
Already with a win under his belt this year, top-ranked Vijay Singh is making the first in a long line of title defences.