Mickelson leads British Open after completing second round

The 46-year-old remains in the lead on the west coast of Scotland after shooting a 69 in his second round as he bids for a second Open title and sixth major.

Mickelson had become the 26th player to card a 63 in majors on Thursday and came agonizingly close to a record 62 after seeing his 16-foot birdie putt on the 18th hit the lip.

He took a three-shot lead into day two on the par-71 links course and started off in the same vein nailing birdies at four, seven and eight - the famous hole with a small green nicknamed the "Postage Stamp".

But the 2013 winner hit trouble at the 12th and 15th, dropping shots on both holes. A birdie at 14 limited the damage in the wind and rain which so typifies this annual event.

Henrik Stenson of Sweden is just a shot further back on 9-under after a sparkling 65. Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen is on 7-under after a blemish-free 68 in his completed second round along with American Keegan Bradley.

Many of the big names, including Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth played later in the day when weather conditions, along with scores, deteriorated. Still, all three of them made the cut, which was four over par.

There was sadness for French golfer Clement Sordet, who hails from Nice and woke up to hear the terrible news about the attack in his city which has killed at least 84 people.

The tragedy occurred 500 meters from Sordet's home so he used a marker pen to write "Pray for Nice' on his golf cap before he shot a 4-over par 75.

"It's a really sad situation," the 23-year-old Sordet said. "I give my thoughts to all the families and to the people who died."

mm (AP)