Watney in lead; Mickelson out

Phil Mickelson tied for 121st.

Nick Watney was all alone at the top of the crowded leaderboard.

On a day local favorite Mickelson missed the projected cut by seven strokes, Watney shot an 8-under-par 63 to take the second-round lead at the FBR Open yesterday in Scottsdale, Ariz. Play was called because of darkness with three players, all above the cut line, on the course.

At 9 under through two rounds, Watney had a one-stroke lead over Charley Hoffman, Matt Kuchar, and first-round co-leader James Nitties. Kenny Perry and Cameron Beckman were two shots back.

"I was hitting the ball close, and I kept telling my caddie just to get me on the green any way and I felt like I could hole it," Watney said.

Mickelson usually fares well in this event, although he has missed the cut here twice in the last three years.

Mickelson never recovered from a disastrous 5-over 76 in the first round. He had five bogeys and three birdies in a round of 73 yesterday.

This is the first time Mickelson has missed the cut in his season debut in a pro career that began in 1992. But he said rust wasn't a factor. "I feel I hit the ball fairly solid," he said. "I just made some errors here and there."

European - Henrik Stenson shot a 7-under 65 to take the clubhouse lead in the second round of the fog-delayed Dubai Desert Classic. Stenson played 25 holes because of fog delays in the opening round. After a 68 in the first round, he totaled 11-under 133, one stroke ahead of Richard Green.

The PGA Tour sued Ginn Resorts, citing breach of contract after the real estate company dropped sponsorship of the Champions Tour Ginn Championship. Ginn announced Wednesday it was ending all golf sponsorships, including the LPGA's Ginn Open.

"We regret having to take this legal action, but feel we have no other recourse than to try to recover what had been guaranteed to our members through existing agreements with Ginn Companies," PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said.