Mickelson makes his move as McDowell surges ahead (Roundup)

By Ben James Jun 19, 2010, 3:58 GMT

Pebble Beach, California - Phil Mickelson made his move at the US Open on Friday with a tournament-best 5-under-par 66 to storm up into a share of second place at the halfway point in the US Open at Pebble Beach.

The Masters champion, bidding for back-to-back Majors, picked up six birdies and just one bogey as he moved up to 1-under-par, two shots behind the lead set by Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, who carded a 3-under-par 68.

While world No 1 Tiger Woods is seven shots off the pace after a 72 dropped him back to 4-over-par, Mickelson made a great start with three straight birdies from the second hole and never looked back.

Two more birdies followed at the sixth and eighth holes and though he bogeyed the ninth hole, he got it back at the 11th and parred the rest to join two-time champion Ernie Els, American Dustin Johnson and Ryo Ishikawa of Japan on 1-under.

'I think it's going to get harder over the weekend,' Mickelson said. 'I think today was the day to take advantage of it.'

The 30-year-old McDowell reached 4-under-par at one stage but a bogey at the ninth hole, his last, dropped him back to 3-under - still two shots clear of the field.

'I'm playing the golf of my life but there's a long way to go,' said McDowell, who thrived in the overcast conditions.

'I'm swinging well and hitting the shots I see in my head. It's just keeping the ball under control. The conditions were scoreable this morning - the greens were receptive with little wind.

'I'm in a great position but I'm just going to keep doing my thing and see where I am on Sunday afternoon.'

Englishman Paul Casey, who shared the overnight lead on 2-under-par, fell back to level par but only three shots behind McDowell while another Englishman Ian Poulter was just one shot further back.

Lee Westwood, another of the pre-tournament favourites, was four shots behind McDowell after a level-par 71.