More frost hits Phoenix event

Heavy frost delayed play yesterday for a second consecutive morning at the Phoenix Open where 66 players, including Scotland's Martin Laird, were yet to finish the opening round of the PGA Tour event.

Four hours of scheduled play were lost on Thursday because of the unseasonably chilly weather at TPC Scottsdale and a further 94 minutes were wiped out by the freezing conditions yesterday. Officials expected that most of the second round would spill over into today, setting up the prospect of a marathon finish of around 36 holes tomorrow.

Americans Bill Haas, Tom Gillis, Jason Bohn and 51-year-old Tom Lehman, the former Open champion, were tied for the lead when the frost-delayed first round was suspended in fading light on Thursday.

Haas, Gillis, Bohn and Champions Tour player Lehman opened with matching six-under-par 65s, one stroke better than compatriots Chris Couch, Ben Crane and Lucas Glover. World No 4 Phil Mickelson, winner here in 1996 and 2005, carded a six-birdie 67 to finish level with fellow Americans Chris Riley, Jeff Overton, Joe Ogilvie and Matt Bettencourt.

"I'm looking forward to getting back out here the next couple days," Mickelson told reporters after his opening round.

"Although I probably won't play tomorrow (Friday), I should be able to get a lot of golf in on Saturday. I'm excited because I can feel it (his game) really coming around."