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Bradley makes move with 63

US Tour: Phil Mickelson was unable to carry the momentum of Thursday’s magical 60 into the early stages of his second round …

Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin finds himself a little off course during the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic yesterday. Maybin recovered to sign for a 67 to lie just four shots off the lead. Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin finds himself a little off course during the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic yesterday. Maybin recovered to sign for a 67 to lie just four shots off the lead. Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Sat Feb 02 2013 - 00:00

US Tour:Phil Mickelson was unable to carry the momentum of Thursday's magical 60 into the early stages of his second round at the Phoenix Open in Arizona. But the American remained at the head of proceedings midway through his round, picking up four shots to open a healthy advantage over clubhouse leader Keegan Bradley.

Mickelson, a winner at Scottsdale the last time he shot 60 in 2005, carded six straight pars before finally opening his account with birdies at the seventh and ninth to lead Bradley by one. Another two birdies early in the back nine stretched his lead to three.

On another low-scoring morning, it was the former US PGA champion who made the biggest move as a sparkling round of 63, including four birdies on the trot from the fifth to the eighth holes, propelled him through the field.

After the early morning desert frost cleared, the low scoring saw Pádraig Harrington, second at the start of the day on seven under, get swallowed up by the chasing pack and by the time he got his round underway shortly after midday he was back in a tie for 15th. A birdie at the par-five third hole got the Dubliner moving in the right direction and Harrington’s excellent approach at the sixth would yield another birdie.

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A booming drive at the ninth just shy of 350 yards should have set up another opportunity, but a misjudged approach dropped short into the greenside bunker. The three-time Major champion was unable to get it up-and-down from the trap and fell back to eight under with nine to play.

Bradley had mixed seven birdies with an eagle at the 15th and a lone bogey on the Stadium Course at the TPC Scottsdale to finish a stroke in front of Argentina’s Angel Cabrera (65). And having been mentored by PGA Tour veteran Mickelson since his rookie season on the US circuit in 2011, Bradley felt inspired by his good friend’s red-hot start to the week.

“I spoke to him,” Bradley, who won all three matches he played with Mickelson last year in his debut at the Ryder Cup, said after his round. “I watched the putt on the last hole and found myself cheering for him, just like I did at the Ryder Cup. He gets me excited to play”