Phil Mickelson misses another chance at a record in Phoenix Open

Phil Mickelson had a double-bogey six on his final hole Friday in the second round of the Phoenix Open to miss tying the PGA Tour’s lowest 36-hole total.

After he birdied the short par-four No. 17, he was in position with a par at the 18th to break the 36-hole record of 17-under 124. Instead, he hit his tee shot at TPC Scottsdale’s No. 18 into the water and finished with a six-under-par 65 on Friday, good for a four-shot lead over Bill Haas and five better than Keegan Bradley and Brandt Snedeker.

Mickelson flirted with a 59 on Thursday, but settled for an 11-under 60 when his putt at No. 9 -- the final hole of his first round -- lipped out. He could have had a commanding lead Friday with a par at No. 18, though.

“Unfortunately, I made a double on the last hole and didn’t finish the way I wanted to,” Mickelson said. “But I think it’s a good example of what can happen on this course. You can make a lot of birdies and eagles, make up a lot of ground, but there’s a lot of water and trouble there that if you misstep you can easily make bogeys and double.”

The 6-foot-3 left-hander moved to seven under with an eagle at the par-five No. 15, opening a six-shot lead over Bradley.

When he birdied No. 17, he was at eight under for the day and 18 under for the tournament. His double bogey at No. 18 left Mickelson tied with Mark Calcavecchia for the Phoenix Open 36-hole record, which was set in 2001.

The PGA Tour’s 36-hole record is held by Pat Perez, who was at 17-under 124 at the 2009 Bob Hope Classic.

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