The Players, round two: Mickelson in danger of being overtaken

Phil Mickelson knows he’s got to buck his ideas up Saturday. His short game, notably his putter, is what is keeping him alive. Those who spend their lives glued to Shotlink tell us he has yet to miss a putt from less than 8ft.

Lefty apparently can’t make up his mind if his glass is half full or empty. Let me help. He threw away a golden opportunity to break clear of the field Friday. Instead he needed a late eagle and some good fortune at the last to keep his head above water. He was playing in the more difficult afternoon conditions, which again played on average a stroke higher than in the morning. But scoring was much easier than when the wind was bringing mayhem to the first round - average scores Friday were about two shots lower. On that basis half empty is definitely the answer.

Lefty’s stats are far from what a winner’s numbers should look like, while a number of players gathering behind him are putting together a respectable set, Peter Lonard in particular. He is top ten for everything except distance off the tee (where he comes 32nd). If Sean O’Hair could tickle up his putting he could well streak ahead.

Jim Furyk is still too patchy to be convincing, but lower down there’s a cluster of the great and good on one over who exude a vague menace. It looks a task of Himalayan proportions for Tiger Woods, though, after only just sneaking over the cut line. I cannot believe how he has failed to get to grips with these greens. You’d think such a solid professional would have worked something out after 36 of them.

Mind you, he could still afford a chuckle, and a stinging one-line rebuke, over the antics of Rory Sabbatini. Has anyone spotted Rory by the way, only I can’t see him on top of the leaderboard any more? Ah, there he is: after all that he’s obviously decided to keep Tiger company. Yet another whose fate has been sealed by the dreaded 17th hole!

Wouldn’t it have been a superb piece of irony if he had dropped two more shots and ended up as Tiger’s playing partner Saturday?