Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. ó Phil Mickelson is looking a bit more at ease, the golf course providing some of the distraction he wanted while he and his wife deals with her breast cancer.
Now if he can just his putter back under control.
Mickelson just missed a couple birdie attempts Friday, then cost himself a stroke when a par putt lipped out. Not that he got the chance to correct his stroke during the second round of the St. Jude Classic. He marked his tee shot in the 16th fairway, got a ride off the course and jumped into his car after play was stopped ahead of thunderstorms that had tornado sirens wailing.
Play was halted and fans and players were cleared from the TPC Southwind course when the horn sounded 10 minutes before thunder could be heard on Friday.
Brian Gay held the clubhouse lead after a 4-under 66 put him at 10-under 130 through 36 holes, two strokes ahead of Robert Allenby and Bryce Molder (63), with Allenby having three holes to play. A total of 78 golfers still must finish when the second round resumes Saturday morning.
– John Daly finished at the projected cut line at even par after a 2-under 68. With the weather delay, he will have to wait until Saturday morning to see if he keeps playing in his first PGA Tour event following a six-month suspension.
Daly finished just as the afternoon wave was teeing off. He opened with a 72 and had broken par on this course only three times in his previous 19 rounds. He didn’t talk when he finished.
If he makes the cut, a temporary restraining order Daly’s attorneys obtained Wednesday keeping his estranged wife away from the course would be extended into the weekend.