By IANS
Pacific Palisades (US) : Daniel Chopra missed the cut as he returned a three-over 74 which saw him lie at five-over 147 and in a lowly 87th place after the second round of the $6.2 million Northern Trust Open golf tournament here.
Though a handful of players have yet to complete their second round, Indian-born Swede Chopra, lying two shots off the likely cut mark, is sure to be out.
Phil Mickelson, who has been flying back and forth from Pacific Palisades and his home in Los Angeles, took the top spot with a blistering seven-under 64. He shot nine birdies against two bogeys and is now 10-under 132.
Chopra birdied the first hole Friday, but dropped shots on the second and third holes and then collapsed with bogeys on the sixth, eighth and ninth to turn in four-over. A birdie on 11th was no consolation as he bogeyed the 12th and 13th. Two birdies on the 15th and 16th gave semblance of respectability but it was too late.
The Asian Tour challenge was kept alive by Korea’s Charlie Wi, who began his round in 24th place and moved up 15 spots to joint-ninth place after carding a three-under par 68.
Wi shares the ninth place with fellow compatriot and overnight leader K.J. Choi, after they had both posted matching 138s.
Choi failed to hold on to his first round lead after he made three costly bogeys at the Riviera Country Club to finish on 73.
Kevin Na also slipped to joint 38th place after ending his day on 142.
Mickelson, who has never won this tournament, lost in a play-off to American Charles Howell III last year. This time Mickelson is four ahead of second-placed Robert Allenby (66) of Australia and fellow American Jeff Quinney (67) at the halfway stage.