GOLF Mickelson on course for career milestone

The leader of the FBR Open has never won back-to-back tournaments.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Phil Mickelson stayed on pace to win back-to-back tournaments for the first time in his career Friday, shooting a 3-under-par 68 to take a one-shot lead in the FBR Open.
Mickelson had three birdies and an eagle before bogeying the last two holes.
His 36-hole score of 10-under 132 was just beyond the reach of Jonathan Kaye, Jeff Sluman and first-round leader Scott Verplank.
"It could have been a really good day, but it's close enough to where a good round tomorrow will give me a chance," said Mickelson, who was winless in 2003 and wound up a career-low 38th on the money list after three years of finishing second.
The left-hander also led with two rounds to go at the Bob Hope, which he won Sunday for his 22nd title, and has been in the 60s all seven rounds this year.
"I feel very comfortable with the way I'm playing, which I haven't had in a long time," Mickelson said.
Verplank started one shot ahead of Mickelson and was up by that margin after 16 holes before also finishing with consecutive bogeys. His 70 threw him back with Sluman, who carded a 67, and Kaye, who shot 68.
Masters champion Mike Weir finished the first round Friday morning with a par-saving, 11-foot putt for 65. Then he played the second in 69 to stay within two shots of the lead. He was joined at 134 by Ricky Barnes (67).
Seventy players made the cut at 142 -- a sign the course was toughened by lengthening some holes. Last year's cut was at 4-under.
Three-time Phoenix winner Mark Calcavecchia and Paul Azinger, the 1987 champion, shot 66s and easily got in the final field as part of an eight-golfer group at 137.
Defending champion Vijay Singh, a two-time winner, carded a 69 for 140 -- in the money by two strokes, and in position to try to extend his run of 10 consecutive top-10 finishes.
Chris DiMarco (2002), Jesper Parnevik (1998) and Lee Janzen (1993) were other Phoenix winners who got in, but Rocco Mediate, the 1999 medalist, was out after back-to-back 72s.
Champions Skins Game
WAILEA, Hawaii -- Tom Watson birdied the seventh hole -- worth three skins and $70,000 -- to take the lead Friday in the Champions Skins Game.
Watson, the 2003 Champions Tour player of the year, blasted out of the bunker on the par-5, 555-yard hole to set up his birdie chance.
Jack Nicklaus, who turned 64 last week, was second with three skins worth $60,000. Arnold Palmer had two skins and $50,000. Defending champion Lee Trevino was shut out.
The final nine holes of the $600,000 event, worth $390,000, will be played today.
Nicklaus, who finished sixth Sunday in the season-opening MasterCard Championship, had the lead for most of the day after an eagle on the par-5 second gave him two skins and $40,000.
He reached the green with his second shot on the 523-yard hole and sank a 15-foot putt for eagle. The $40,000 moved Nicklaus past Raymond Floyd ($1,630,000) on the Champions Skins career money list with $1,645,000.
Nicklaus earned another $20,000 with his 10-foot birdie on the par-4 fourth.
After the next two holes carried over, Watson sank his go-ahead birdie putt.
At 54, Watson is the youngest of the group and was clearly the longest hitter.
Watson has won 39 times on the PGA Tour, including eight majors. He won the Senior British Open and the Tradition last year, two majors on the Champions Tour.