Golf: Phil Mickelson on the Greenbrier precipice after frustrating day

Phil Mickelson was almost certain to miss the cut as fellow Americans Jonathan Byrd and Charlie Beljan held a share of the early lead in last night’s second round of the Greenbrier Classic at White Sulphur Springs in West Virginia.

Byrd sank an eight-foot birdie putt on his final hole, the par-3 18th, for a two-under-par 68 to join PGA Tour rookie Beljan (62) atop the leaderboard at eight-under 132. However, four-times major winner Mickelson was a frustrated figure after carding a second successive 71 on the Old White TPC Course to post a two-over total, three strokes outside the projected cutline.

“I don’t know what to say about that,” Mickelson said after mixing three birdies with two bogeys and a double-bogey at the par-three 15th. “The parts don’t feel that far off, but I haven’t been putting them together. I certainly struggled a little bit on the greens both years, but nothing that should have led to these scores.”

Mickelson, who tied for 65th at last month’s US Open in his previous PGA Tour start, hit only six fairways yesterday while totalling 30 putts. “It doesn’t feel bad off the tee, it doesn’t feel bad with the iron play and it doesn’t feel bad chipping or putting,” the 42-year-old said. “But I’m making a lot of loose drives here or there, some loose iron shots here or there, missing some short putts here or there.”

Mickelson plans to travel with his family to Europe on Monday for a brief family holiday before he completes his preparations for the 19-22 July Open at Royal Lytham.

Overnight leader Vijay Singh, who opened with a blistering 63, and Tiger Woods, who carded a 71 on Thursday, were among the day’s late starters.