Refreshed Mickelson tied with Gay for New Orleans lead...
May 4, 2001
SportsLine.com wire reports
NEW ORLEANS -- After the Masters, Phil Mickelson needed some down time. A three-week respite apparently left him more rested than rusty.
Mickelson followed up a first-round 66 with another one Friday and had him tied with Brian Gay for the lead in the $4 million Compaq Classic.
For two weeks after the Masters, Phil Mickelson didn't touch a club; his first two rounds back are 66-66.(AP)
"It's starting to feel a little bit more comfortable now, standing on tee shots and knowing a little bit on what side I might miss it, and that allows me to minimize my mistakes," Mickelson said. "I'm hoping that over the course of the next two days I steadily progress and improve some ball striking and so forth."
One stroke behind the leaders was Harrison Frazar, who had a second-round 65.
Paul Stankowski followed up his course- and tournament-record 61 with a 5-over 77 Friday.
"After going bogey, bogey and triple-bogey on the 15th hole, I was looking for a tourniquet," Stankowski said. "I couldn't stop the bleeding."
Mickelson, the No. 2 golfer in the world, admitted he desperately wanted to win the Masters but lost by three strokes to Tiger Woods. He was done in by an errant tee shot on No. 11 and a three-putt on 16, mistakes that led to an even-par 36 on the back nine of Augusta.
Although Mickelson said he only thought about the Masters for a day or two afterward, he took three weeks off, not touching a golf club for the first two, and arrived at the Compaq Classic refreshed.
"With only a couple or three holes left, I had a very realistic shot at winning this year's Masters," Mickelson said. "So I felt that my level of play increased."
Although his scores were identical, Mickelson felt he played better on Friday.
"I think the approach has to be to work into the week," Mickelson said. "Because when you come off of a stretch you're not going to be firing on all cylinders the first day. You need to be patient and let it slowly come, which I've tried to do."
Gay's 66s put him in new territory.
"I missed the cut last year, and the year before, I don't remember," Gay said. "I made the cut, but I want to say around 40th or something."
Frazar looked to his recent finishes in sizing up his chances at winning.
"Two years ago I finished second and last year I finished third here," Frazar said. "So this will be either first or fourth (place) coming up. I don't know which."
Jerry Kelly, Keith Clearwater, Chris Tidland and Brian Wilson were all at 9 under, while Ernie Els, Brian Watts and Jim Carter were another stroke back.
Two-time defending champion Carlos Franco, David Duval and Brad Fabel were at 7 under.
As with the first day, the lowest scores were shot in the morning before the wind came up.
"The front nine played much easier with the wind being calm," Mickelson said. "Then it picked up on the back."
AP NEWS
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