Mickelson set for Woods battle

Florida golf fans will get what they want today – another chance to see Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson going at it face-to-face.

Twelve months after a memorable last round duel in the Ford Championship at Doral, two of America’s greatest sporting rivals were tied for the lead at the halfway stage of the same event.

Also 13 under par after two rounds were Scott Verplank and Colombian rookie Camilo Villegas – but they could expect only a tiny fraction of the crowd guaranteed to watch defending champion Woods battle with Mickelson.

“I was finding myself having to push and push to keep pace with these guys because I just could see the lead was going lower and lower,” said Mickelson, so keen to atone for being beaten by one last year.

Asked if he had to guard against being drawn into match play with the world number one, he replied: “Oh, sure. There are guys that are right there that are going to go out and make a lot of birdies and it will be easy for them. They will have no pressure on them.

“They will just go out and attack and get themselves in position and that’s what we have to do if we want to continue to be up near the lead, make a lot of birdies.

“I don’t think it will be anything like Sunday last year where we’re watching what each other is doing and trying to beat each other. It will be more trying to shoot a low round and be in the final group for Sunday.”

Woods has come out on top all three times they have been last round partners and with that in mind Mickelson, yet to have a bogey, said: “His record is a little bit better than mine. Of course he enjoys it.

“I do enjoy – win, lose or draw – having a chance to compete against him and I know that the more opportunities I have to play head-to-head against him in the same events, in the same group, it can only help my game.”

After trailing by one when Woods opened with a 64, Mickelson birdied two of his last three holes yesterday for a 66 while Woods was adding a 67.

“I didn’t putt nearly as well,” commented Woods. “The greens are soft, so you can be aggressive and fire at the flags.

“We’ve got a long way to go. You’ve got to continue making birdies and see what happens. Right now we’re tied for the lead. By the end of the day we may not be.”

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington was still in touch at eight under with one to play, but needing a closing par for a second successive 68 he fluffed a chip, then three-putted for a double bogey six.

On six under he was alongside Greg Owen, Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik, who had no fewer than nine birdies in his 66.

Verplank’s 65 was matched by Ernie Els, but the South African had started the day down on level par and so was still six adrift.

The leading European remained Orlando-based Swede Daniel Chopra, who added a 67 to his opening 66 for 11 under and eighth place.

David Howell is five under, but Justin Rose, Brian Davis, Graeme McDowell and Nick Faldo – playing his first event in America since last April’s Masters – all missed the halfway cut, Faldo crashing to six over with a 78.