LOS ANGELES, February 17, 2012 (AFP) - Phil Mickelson maintained his lead early in the second round of the Northern Trust Open Friday, a dramatic eagle from the fairway helping offset some less impressive play.
"I probably didn't play the greatest today, but I was able to kind of salvage a good round," said Mickelson, who carded a one-under par 70 at Riviera Country Club for a two-shot clubhouse lead on six-under par 136.
His big break of the day came at the 460-yard par-four eighth, where his L-wedge from 110 yards out found the hole.
"I was afraid if I went at that pin I could easily go long and go all the way down that hill," Mickelson said. "Rather than take a chance, what I tried to do was kind of sling-hook an L-wedge and try to sidespin it towards the hole.
"It kind of sidespun right in the hole, so it worked out just perfect."
Not everything in the four-time major winner's day turned out so well as Mickelson, winner of back-to-back titles here in 2008-09, struggled to build momentum.
"I made some good par putts today," said Mickelson, who was in two bunkers at his opening hole, the 10th, and saved par with a 14-foot putt.
He was in a greenside bunker at the third, his 12th hole of the day, but made a nine-footer to walk off with a par.
He closed his round with the last of his three bogeys of the day, missing a six-footer to save par at the par-four ninth.
Mickelson's first-round 66 on Thursday had given him a one-shot lead over US compatriots J.B. Holmes and Hunter Mahan when the late-running first-round wrapped up on Friday morning.
Sweden's Carl Pettersson briefly took the second-round lead before finishing with a one-under 70 for 138.
Jimmy Walker (66) and Matt Kuchar (69) were also in the clubhouse on four-under with the afternoon starters on the course.
The gusting winds that bedevilled players on Thursday had evaporated, leaving mostly clear skies and pleasant temperatures in their wake.
"I thought there were some low scores out there," said Mickelson, who is seeking a second straight US PGA Tour title after a stirring victory at Pebble Beach on Sunday.
Even if his lead didn't hold up, Mickelson noted he would be in a strong position going into the weekend.
"With 36 holes to go I'm right in the thick of it," he said.
Leading scores here on Friday after completion of the first round of the US PGA Tour's $6.6 million Northern Trust Open (Round resumed from Thursday, second round underway. USA unless noted, par-71):
66 - Phil Mickelson
67 - J.B. Holmes, Hunter Mahan
68 - Jonathan Byrd, Carl Pettersson (SWE), Troy Matteson
69 - K.J. Choi (KOR), Brendan Steele, Brandt Jobe, Sergio Garcia (ESP), Matt Kuchar, Stewart Cink, Rory Sabbatini (RSA), Ken Duke
70 - Luke Donald (ENG), Justin Rose (ENG), Bubba Watson, David Hearn (CAN) Tom Pernice, Marc Leishman (AUS), Cameron Tringale, Tommy Gainey, Fred Couples Cameron Beckman
71 - Kevin Stadler, Mathew Goggin (AUS), Ricky Barnes, Dustin Johnson, Harrison Frazar, John Mallinger, Briny Baird, Keegan Bradley, Zach Johnson, Joe Ogilvie, J.J. Killeen