Daniel Berger has stormed to the top of the FedEx St Jude Classic leaderboard after scoring a six-under-par 64 in the second round, though the ominous figure of golfing heavyweight Phil Mickelson is in hot pursuit.
American Berger, the PGA Tour's rookie of the year last season, jumped three shots clear of his closest pursuers at the TPC Southwind in Memphis with a nine-under halfway total of 131.
Little-known American Tom Hoge (69) was alone in second, with Mickelson, a five-times major winner, joint third on five-under after a 65.
"I am putting well, no question," Mickelson told PGA Tour radio. "I didn't strike it as well as I have been this year for the first couple of days. It's just a fraction off and I'm going to go work on it now.
"Hopefully I can figure out what the difference is because if I can hit a few more greens, the way I am putting, I should have a good chance (of winning)."
Equal third with Mickelson were fellow Americans Brooks Koepka (65) and long-hitting Dustin Johnson, who got to eight under before dropping three shots in his last two holes for a 69.
Johnson, the 2012 champion, bogeyed the 17th after bunkering his approach before running up a double at the last, where he three-putted from seven feet.
"I played a lot better than my score," said Johnson. "Making bogey and double on the last two holes from the middle of the fairway is not a very good finish. I just made a couple bad swings.
"I feel like I am playing really well, I got a lot of confidence in my game on this golf course, I just need to go out and shoot another good score tomorrow."
Share
