Martin Laird posted his second straight six-under 66 to take the lead at the Phoenix Open, which will be without Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson after they missed the cut.
Scotland’s Laird finished 36 holes at 10-under-par 132 in a round that included just one bogey, which came on his final hole of the day. It was also his first bogey of the event at the rain-soaked TPC Scottsdale course.
“I held off for 17 holes. I am very pleased with it,” Laird said. “And obviously a little disappointed with [bogey], but I am not complaining. Five-under is a hell of a lot better today than five-under was yesterday.”
Photo: AFP
Scoring was difficult on Friday as conditions were wet and cold.
Daniel Berger, who is playing on a sponsor exemption, posted a two-under 69 and stands alone in second place at eight under. Justin Thomas carded a three-under 68 to move into third place at seven-under-par 135.
Woods struggled to an 11-over 82, his highest score in 322 career tournaments. He ended at 13-over-par 155 at the TPC Scottsdale, missing the cut in his second straight start for the first time in his PGA Tour career.
“We all have days like this,” said Woods, who was playing in the tournament for the first time in 14 years.
Mickelson, a three-time winner of this event, struggled to a five-over 76, which left him out of the weekend action at three-over-par 145. Mickelson’s score was his highest in this event since 2009.
This is just the second time ever that Woods and Mickelson have missed the cut at the same event. The other was at the 2012 Greenbrier Classic.
“It was a difficult round, I thought, for everyone,” said fan-favorite Mickelson.
Former Masters champions Zach Johnson (70), Bubba Watson (71) and Angel Cabrera (69) share fourth place at six-under. They were joined there by first-round leader Ryan Palmer (72), Ryan Moore (67) and Robert Streb (70).
Rain fell for most of Friday’s second round and play was eventually suspended due to darkness. The first round had also been halted by darkness and was completed earlier on Friday. The second round was to restart yesterday with third round tee times in the late morning.
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