Mickelson sets pace as Walton misses cut

COLIN MONTGOMERIE'S major misery continued in Louisville yesterday when he crashed out of the United States PUA championship.

The world number two who missed the halfway cut at the Open three weeks ago, slumped to a second round 77 and headed straight for the airport.

The tournament is in Phil Mickelson's grip at the moment, though. The left hander, a winner three times already this season, had his second successive 67 and on the 10 under mark of 134 held a three stroke lead over fellow young American Justin Leonard (66).

Ireland's Philip Walton also missed the cut after slumping to a 76 for a two over par total of 146. Walton, delighted with his opening 70, managed only 39 for the outward half and when he bogeyed the 12th he was two over. A birdie at the 15th, however, puts him back inside the expected cut off point.

Walton then missed the green at the 16th, chipped to six feet, but missed the putt to go back to two over. After a par on the 17th he had to birdie the par five last to survive, but his second shot finished on a sandy divot just left of the green and his chip did not climb the ridge in front of the flag.

His 25 foot putt to stay alive was short as well and realising he was on his way home, he said: "I'm so disappointed. I can't believe my bad luck there."

With Masters champion Nick Faldo not managing a single birdie in a 75 - he had eight in the opening 69 - it was left to Ian Woosnam and Swede Jesper Parnevik to spearhead Europe's challenge for the final major of the season.

Woosnam himself feared he might be joining Montgomerie on the flight home when he fell from four under par to one under with three successive bogeys on the front nine at Valhalla.

But the Welshman repaired all the damage to add a 72 to his opening 68.

Parnevik's comeback was even more spectacular. He was, amazingly, three over after eight holes, but then had no fewer than seven birdies - including all the last four holes - for a 67 and a four under par total of 140, matching Woosnam.

Woosnam, taking tablets to combat a sinus problem he started suffering from last week, stated: "I don't feel I am playing that well, but my chipping and putting is great."

He began his recovery by pitching to five feet on the ninth, then further birdies came at the 13th and 14th from seven and five feet and the single pulled the next three greens to maintain his challenge.

"After those bogeys I just tried to hang on in there," he added. "I thought I am going to miss the cut, but I then started putting beautifully."

Faldo bogeyed the first, third and filth and then parred the remaining 13 holes.

"I hit three bad five irons early on and then just didn't make a thing," he said. "I sensed it was going to be a really good day the way I practised, which made it all the more frustrating. It's back to the drawing board now.

"After five holes I was 10 back and that's very demoralising."

The early target had been set at six under by American Kenny Perry and Fijian Vijay Singh - he holed in one at the 208 yard 14th with a five iron - but then Mickelson birdied four of the last six holes to take command.

Leonard, at 24 two years younger than Mickelson, won his first US Tour title last Sunday and still seems to be riding the crest of a wave. He also birdied the last two holes to take second spot.

Twice winner Nick Price had similar late collapse. He marched to eight under with five birdies in the first 11, but found water on the 13th and also double.

Montgomerie's fellow Scot Sam Torrance and Mark James missed the halfway cut as well. James, who had been four under after six holes of his first round, returned rounds of 73 and 75 to drop alongside Montgomerie, while Torrance, who resumed his second round on one under, went to the turn in 40 and dropped a further five strokes in the next four holes.