Johnson makes stunning start

A measure of how well Phil Mickelson had played in the first two rounds of the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta came today from Swede Richard Johnson.

The 29-year-old former European Tour winner, Florida-based since coming through the US PGA Tour qualifying school in 2002, resumed with seven birdies in his first 13 holes – and yet was still 10 adrift of Mickelson.

Five days before he begins his quest for a second successive major win, defending champion Mickelson took a six-stroke lead into the third round.

He stood 16 under par after rounds of 63 – which equalled the TPC at Sugarloaf course record – and 65, with JJ Henry 10-under and Jose Maria Olazabal, one of four players beaten by Mickelson in a Monday play-off last year, nine-under.

Johnson made the cut right on the limit of level par, but with five holes remaining he had climbed all the way from 66th to joint eighth alongside Luke Donald and Ian Poulter.

He had four birdies in an outward 33, then picked up more shots on the 10th, 12th and 13th to boost his hopes of a first top-20 finish in eight starts this year.

The last player to lead by six at halfway on the circuit was Darren Clarke at Hilton Head 12 months ago. Clarke still led by four with 13 holes to go, but played them in an horrific nine over par to lose to Peter Lonard.

Few were expecting Mickelson to cave in like that.