Villegas maintains Phoenix Open lead

Camilo Villegas held onto his Phoenix Open lead but was tied at the top of the leaderboard by United States’ Mark Wilson. Villegas, who had started the day with a one-shot lead following a scorching first round 62 at TPC Scottsdale carded a second round 69 to share the half-way lead with Wilson, after the American shot 66.

Ryder Cup player Anthony Kim shares third place in an all-American trio alongside Ryan Moore and Rickie Fowler one shot behind; while a sextet of players are tied for sixth place a further stroke off the pace. Among the six are Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, United States’ Pat Perez and veteran Tom Lehman.

In a round suspended due to darkness, Ian Poulter shot a joint best-of-the-day 63 to move up the leaderboard and the Englishman lies tied for 16th place alongside countryman Justin Rose. A total of eight players make up the bracket which lies just four shots off the lead.

Phil Mickelson threatened the top of the leaderboard during his second round after carding four birdies on his front nine. A further birdie down the back was tempered by two bogeys and the world number three finished with a second successive 68 to lay 5 shots off the pace alongside 14 others, including Geoff Ogilvy, Mark Calcavecchia, Chad Campbell and US PGA champion YE Yang.

After recovering back to two-under par in his first round, our pick JB Holmes also made progress through the field with a 68 to add to his opening 69 for a five under total to sit six off the lead. United States’ Nick Watney was the other player to shoot 63 and equal Poulter’s round. The American was in danger of missing the cut after a first round of 74, but his equal best-of-the-day round sees him safely make the weekend’s play. The pair are among a group of 15 players on five-under par.

The delayed second rounds will be concluded early Saturday, with Matt Every among those who will need to complete their rounds.

Villegas to the fore in Phoenix Open

Columbian Camilo Villegas scorched TPC Scottsdale during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Villegas, who finished third behind Ian Poulter in last week’s WGC Accenture World Match Play posted a tournament-equalling nine-under-par round of 62 to take a one shot lead into the second round.

It was the Columbian’s lowest ever round in a PGA event and included three birdies on the front nine, with a further six birdies on the back nine as he took full advantage of his early start and ideal conditions.

Villegas, who twice won on the PGA Tour in 2008, is seeking his first tournament win since winning the Tour Championship that year.

United States’ Matt Every carded a 63 to lie one shot behind Villegas, while Englishman Justin Rose formed part of a five-man group including Mark Wilson, Ryuji Imada, Rickie Fowler and Pat Perez a further shot behind in a tie for third place. The quintet sits three shots off the pace, with Rose seeking his first PGA Tour victory. Rose could have been even closer to the lead if he hadn’t dropped shots on both the first and last holes.

Every, who had started at the 10th enjoyed a run of six successive birdies – the longest streak of the PGA Tour this year – from the 17th, and the round went a long way to banishing the events of the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Cancun last week where he signed for an incorrect third-round score and was subsequently disqualified.

Last week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play champion Ian Poulter endured a difficult day as he finished with a one-over-par 72. With afternoon conditions proving tricky for many players, Poulter found himself three-over at one point before clawing back to his one-over first round score which gives him a fighting chance of making the half-way cut.

Similarly, JB Holmes had also dropped to two-over par around the turn but fought back to two-under par and keep the tip alive.

Kenny Perry, the reigning champion, carded a three-under-par 68 while Phil Mickelson, making his return after skipping the WGC-Accenture Match Play to be with his family shot a similar score. Mickelson carded six birdies but tempered those with three bogeys as he continued to struggle with his putter.

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