Phil Mickelson refused to be overshadowed by his great rival Tiger Woods on the second day of the Ford Championship at Doral in Florida today.

Defending champion Woods, leader by one overnight, added a 67 to his opening 64, but Mickelson, runner-up last year, birdied two of the last three holes for a 66 and so joined the world number one in the early clubhouse lead on 13 under par.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and England’s David Howell, four under and three under overnight, were among the later starters, as was Ernie Els, who on level par faced a battle to keep alive the longest active run of cuts made on the US Tour.

The South African, who holds the European cut record, last made an early exit in America at the 2004 Bay Hill Invitational.

The cut was expected to fall at three under — and Els was only one off that after starting with two successive birdies.

Swedes Daniel Chopra and Fredrik Jacobson stood seven under, Sergio Garcia had his second successive 69 for six under, while Jesper Parnevik was on the same mark after a remarkable nine birdies in his 66.

But Brian Davis and Justin Rose missed the cut on level par.

Harrington’s birdies at the second and fifth took him to six under, while former European tour player Chopra, in his third season on the American circuit, birdied four of his first seven holes and at 10 under had moved into a share of fifth place.

Els turned in 32 to stand four under, the same as Greg Owen, but Howell resumed with a bogey six to stand two under and two outside the predicted cut mark.

A superb back nine 31 enabled Scott Verplank to catch Mickelson and Woods on 13 under and with three holes remaining David Toms was only one behind.

Chopra stood 10 under after 15 and Harrington eight under with two to go, while Els, far from missing the cut, had improved from level par to seven under after 17.

Graeme McDowell missed his fourth cut out of four in America this year despite improving four strokes on his opening 73 and Nick Faldo’s first event in the States since the Masters last April ended early. He was six over for the day and the tournament after 16.