Mickelson (66) Becoming a Master of the Majors

Phil Mickelson walked up the 18th fairway to a champion’s roar, soaking up the sun and plaudits from the crowd.

He tipped his visor, acknowledging the love.

It was only Friday, not Sunday, yet it was easy to picture Mickelson making a carbon-copy trek two days later as the winner of the 104th U.S. Open.

After shooting a four-under-par 66 on Friday for a share of the 36-hole lead at six-under 134, Mickelson is halfway to owning half of golf’s Grand Slam.

In all those years BA (before Augusta), you’d sit back at this point and wait for a Mickelson meltdown, the weekend course-management breakdown and “my-way-or-the-highway” golf tutorial.

Heading into weekend play at Shinnecock Hills, however, Mickelson has seemingly kicked his game into another gear -- cruise control.

Mickelson was the leader in the clubhouse at six under after his morning round and then dared someone to match it.

Shigeki Maruyama, starting his afternoon round on the 10th hole, gave it his best shot.

He actually took the lead at seven under with a birdie on the par-five fifth hole and held it until a bogey on his last hole, the ninth, pushed him back a peg.

Maruyama finished at two-under 68 and is tied with Mickelson at 134.

Jeff Maggert, who shot three-under 67, is one stroke behind at 135, and 47-year-old Fred Funk and 2001 U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen are two shots back at 136.

Lurking at three-under 137 are Angel Cabrera and Ernie Els.

Els shot a 67, made four consecutive birdies at one point and positioned himself for a run at his third U.S. Open title and, perhaps, another Sunday showdown with Mickelson.

At this year’s fantastic-finish Masters, Mickelson chased Els down on the back nine to win his first major.

It was a gut punch Els has not fully absorbed.

“You obviously know what happened there,” Els said. “It’s kind of difficult to take. But again, he did what he needed to do.”

Friday’s Shinnecock report wasn’t as good for Tiger Woods, who had to rally hard to shoot a one-under 69. He stands at one-over 141 through 36 holes, seven shots behind the leaders.

Woods flirted with the cut line much of the day -- it ended up at five-over 145 -- working his way out of one mess after another.

He closed strongly, playing his last five holes at two under, to stave off disaster.

After starting on the 10th hole, Woods turned his round when he made a brilliant up-and-down from the rough to save par at the par-four 18th.

He said he kept telling himself, “Hang in there. Keep being patient.”

Yet, the feel-good round of the day belonged to Mickelson -- if only because of the ease in which he completed it.

His 66 was bogey-free -- four birdies and 14 pars.

Through two rounds in mild conditions, Mickelson has made one bogey, on the difficult par-three seventh Thursday.

Mickelson hit 12 of his last 13 greens and his last 10 fairways.

Rick Smith, Mickelson’s swing coach, hasn’t once had to reach for the antacid tablet.

“I could get used to that,” Smith said after Mickelson’s breezy 66. “It’s not the cardiac kid stuff. I can be lulled to sleep very easily.”

Smith thought Mickelson’s round was one of the finest he had seen under U.S. Open conditions.

“From the sixth hole on, he didn’t miss a shot,” Smith said.

There is a growing sense that Mickelson’s breakthrough victory at the Masters in April removed all his burdens.

Mickelson hasn’t stopped smiling since slipping on his green jacket, and his contentment shows from tee to green.

He turned 34 on Wednesday, and it’s obvious he and his golf game are aging gracefully.

“The style of golf needed in major championships is significantly different, I feel, than a regular tour event, which seems to be more attack, attack, attack,” the new Mickelson said. “And the majors seem to be something different.”

Mickelson’s game has come a long way since 1995, in the last U.S. Open played at Shinnecock.

He butchered the par-five 16th hole that year, playing it in six over par for the week.

Mickelson finished the tournament tied for fourth, four shots behind winner Corey Pavin.

Had he made par on the hole every day, Mickelson would have won his first major nine years ago, by two shots.

Through two rounds this year, Mickelson has played No. 16 par-birdie.

“Honestly, I didn’t even think about what happened on 16 in the past,” Mickelson said. “ ... I hadn’t reminisced on it during the tournament.”

Mickelson’s legend is growing, along with his legions of fans.

After Friday’s round, he waded through a throng of golf worshipers.

He has smiled so much since winning the Masters, his face has creases.

Phil for president?

“You got my vote!” one Phil fanatic screamed as he pressed forward for an autograph.

There might be no way to stop this coronation.

After playing the first two rounds with Woods, Maruyama has Mickelson as a partner for today’s third round.

“I can expect everybody’s rooting for Phil tomorrow,” Maruyama said through an interpreter. “I played the first two days at the Masters with Phil. Everybody is saying ‘Phil! Phil! Phil! Phil!’ I’ll get earplugs tomorrow.”