Mickelson makes short work of Sawgrass

On a day when the British challenge never got off the launch pad, American Mickelson had to conjure up some magic to shoot an even-par 72 at the Sawgrass TPC.

"I didn't play well enough to shoot even par," Mickelson said after posting a five-under 139 total, one shot better than battling Australian Nathan Green (69), with Swede Carl Pettersson (71) among a group two shots back.

Only two British players made the cut, with Ian Poulter (71) and Luke Donald (72) equal 38th with Irishman Padraig Harrington (70), seven strokes off the pace.

A notable absentee from the leaderboard was Tiger Woods, who struggled to make the cut, his participation in the final two rounds in doubt until the very end.

It was not until he birdied the par-five 16th and stayed dry at the last two holes that the world number one was assured of staying alive, although he has a lot of ground to make up nine strokes back.

Less than a week after winning the Wachovia Championship, Woods did not make a birdie in Thursday's first round and he was not much better 24 hours later, his only two birdies coming at par-five holes.

Woods was particularly unhappy with his putting, claiming he had trouble getting used to the speed of the greens, which are slower than usual.

"I've left so many putts short," he said after a 71.

"They're so slow [the greens], it's hard to make yourself hit the putts that hard. You remember some of the putts being so fast and running out. They don't do that anymore."