SAN DIEGO — A strong finish by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson made them feel better about their rounds Friday on opposite ends of Torrey Pines, and better about their chances of catching Bill Haas.
Haas made eight birdies on the South Course for a 6-under-par 66, giving him a two-shot lead over Anthony Kim going into the weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open.
“A nice 36 (holes) on the weekend could turn this into a great week,” Haas said.
It’s shaping up to be quite a show.
Mickelson, with his wife mingling in the gallery this week for the first time since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2009, turned an ordinary round into a decent one with back-to- back birdies for a 3-under 69 on the North Course. He was three shots behind, along with defending champion Ben Crane, four of Mickelson’s Ryder Cup teammates and John Daly.
Yes, that John Daly.
Winless since his surprise playoff victory seven years ago at Torrey Pines, Daly overcame a double bogey on the North Course for a 69 and found himself in the hunt for the first time since he slimmed down and started wearing the loudest clothes on tour. Could this be another out-of-nowhere win?
“With me, you don’t know what to expect,” Daly said.
Woods managed to stay in the game. He had a 69 and was five shots behind, but with only 11 players ahead of him.
