Mickelson Leads Northern Trust Open

PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Ticker) -- Phil Mickelson shot a 7-under-par 64 on Friday to reach 10-under 132 and take a three-shot lead after two rounds of the $6.2 million Northern Trust Open, which for a second straight day was suspended due to darkness. Six players were left on the golf course and will return early Saturday morning to complete their second round. A cut will be established and the third round will begin shortly after the second is finished.

Robert Allenby, who won this event in 2001, and Jeff Quinney are four shots behind Mickelson. Five golfers - Scott McCarron, Chad Campbell, Scott Verplank, Vaughn Taylor and Billy Mayfair - are five strokes back. Mickelson, who began the day three shots behind first-round leader K.J. Choi, carded a 4-under 31 on the front nine at the par-71 Riviera Country Club. He followed it with a 33. It is his best career round at this tournament. His previous best was a 65 last year, when he wound up losing to Charles Howell III in a playoff. Mickelson made several long birdie putts, including a 60-footer on No. 5, that gave him a share of the lead. He took the spot outright with a birdie on the ninth hole and never relinquished it.