Notes: Monday qualifiers find success at Sugarloaf

By Joel Schuchmann
PGATOUR.com Staff
 

Three of the four Monday qualifiers made the cut -- Donnie Hammond, Scott Parel and Chris Smith.

 Jose Maria Olazabal’s second-round 8-under-par 64 was the lowest second round at the BellSouth since Phil Tataurangi posted an identical 64 in the second round in 2002. Olazabal’s 64 also matched his low round of the year which came at the Buick Invitational, also in the second round.

 John Huston’s streak of made cuts at the BellSouth Classic was snapped at eight

 Paul Azinger withdrew after nine holes on Friday. He was 10-over par on the day after posting a 4-over-par 76 in Thursday’s first round.

 Four of the seven past champions in the field made the cut this week -- Retief Goosen (2002), Zach Johnson (2004), Scott McCarron (1997, 2001) and Phil Mickelson (2000, 2005). Those missing the cut were Corey Pavin (1991), Paul Stankowski (1996) and Bob Tway (1986).

 The cut at even-par 144 was the first time the cut had not been over par since 2002. The 79 players making the cut are the most at the BellSouth Classic since 2001 when 86 players made it to the weekend.

 Phil Tataurangi posted the only eagle on No. 18 on Friday, hitting his second shot from 231 yards to two feet. The eagle helped boost him to 1-under par for the week (71-72—143), safely inside the cut line.

 Jon Mills had two eagles in two rounds, both on No. 13, to lead the field but did not advance to the weekend, finishing at 1-over-par 145 with rounds of 73-72.

 BellSouth Classic -- Largest 36-hole leads:

 Year   Player            36-hole lead      Finish
2006    Phil Mickelson         6              --
1999    Rory Sabbatini         4              T3
1988    Larry Nelson           4              W
1973    Jack Nicklaus          4              W                    

 PGA TOUR -- Largest 36-hole leads since 1970*:

 Year  Player                 Tournament           36-hole lead   Finish

1990  Jose Maria Olazabal   World Series of Golf         9          W
1987  Joey Sindelar              B.C. Open               8          W
2000  Tiger Woods           WGC-NEC Invitational         7          W
1998  David Duval         Tucson Chrysler Classic        7          W
1975  Tom Weiskopf           Westchester Classic         7          3
2006  Phil Mickelson          BellSouth Classic          6          --
2005  Darren Clarke             MCI Heritage             6          T2
1996  Tim Herron             The Honda Classic           6          W
1984  Nick Price               Canadian Open             6          T3
1983  Hal Sutton               Anheuser-Busch            6          T3
1982  Roger Maltbie            the Memorial              6          T2
1977  Al Geiberger               Memphis                 6          W
1974  Johnny Miller              Heritage                6          W     

* The largest previous 36-hole leads in 2006 were four strokes by Chad Campbell (Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, 90 hole event) and J.J. Henry (FBR Open).

 BellSouth Classic -- Lowest 36-hole totals:

 Year  Player               Total           Finish

2006   Phil Mickelson   63-65--128 (-16)      --
1988   Larry Nelson     63-66--129 (-15)      W
1999   Rory Sabbatini   65-65--130 (-14)      T3                    

 Since 1997, only two 36-hole leaders of the BellSouth Classic have gone on to win. Scott McCarron in 2001 shared the 36-hole lead with Chris DiMarco and went on to win by three over Mike Weir. In 2004, Zach Johnson led by two over three players and won by one stroke over Mark Hensby.

 Phil Mickelson career low 36-hole totals:

 Year  Tournament                              Total          Finish

2006   BellSouth Classic                  63-65--128 (-16)      --
2005   AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am  62-67—129 (-15)      W
2002   WorldCom Classic                   65-64—129 (-13)      3rd
2005   Ford Championship at Doral         64-66—130 (-14)      2nd
2005   Bob Hope Chrysler Classic          66-64—130 (-14)      T12    

 PGA TOUR victories the week before winning a major championship:

 Player            Tournament          Major
Sandy Lyle    1988 Greensboro Open    Masters            
Lee Trevino   1971 Canadian Open    British Open
Art Wall      1959 Azalea Open        Masters
Sam Snead     1949 Greensboro Open    Masters
Ben Hogan     1946 Winnipeg Open   PGA Championship
Byron Nelson  1945 Chicago Victory PGA Championship    

 Best finishes at the Masters the week after winning the BellSouth Classic (since 1999):

 Year   BellSouth Classic winner       Masters Finish
1999          David Duval                    T6
2000         Phil Mickelson                  T7
2001         Scott McCarron                  DNQ
2002          Retief Goosen                   2
2003           Ben Crane                     DNQ
2004          Zach Johnson                   DNQ
2005         Phil Mickelson                   1    

 Phil Mickelson Second-Round Leads (11 of 20 Overall, 1-4 Majors):

 Tournament                         36-hole lead             Total  Finish
1993 Northern Telecom Open           tie Hart                 -12     T8
1994 Mercedes Championships  1 stroke over three               -6      W
1995 Northern Telecom Open   1 stroke over Gallagher, Jr.      -12      W
1996 GTE Byron Nelson Classic   1 stroke over Brisky            -8      W
1996 PGA Championship          3 strokes over Leonard          -10     T8
1996 NEC World Series of Golf  1 stroke over two                -4      W
1997 Sprint International     3 points over McCarron         27 pts     W
1998 Mercedes Championships          tie Cook                    -9      W
1999 U.S. Open                 tie Duval, Stewart              -3    2nd
2000 Buick Invitational       tie Maruyama, Triplett           -11      W
2001 Buick Invitational             tie Love                   -12      W
2001 Compaq Classic New Orleans     tie Gay                    -12    2nd
2002 BellSouth Classic            tie Elkington                -11    3rd
2002 Worldcom Classic         2 strokes over Leonard          -13    3rd
2004 FBR Open                 1 stroke over two                -10     T7
2004 U.S. Open                    tie Maruyama                  -6    2nd
2005 FBR Open                        tie Na                      -9      W
2005 AT&T Pebble Beach         4 strokes over Weir              -15      W
2005 Ford Championship at Doral  2 strokes over Andrade           -14    2nd
2005 PGA Championship            3 strokes over Kelly              -8      W
2006 BellSouth Classic         6 strokes over Henry             -16     --    

 Mickelson’s Statistics:

 Category                   Round 2          36-hole statistics
Driving Accuracy        11 of 14 (79%)         21 of 28 (75%)
Driving Distance          303.5 yards           305.0 yards
Greens in Regulation    18 of 18 (100%)        35 of 36 (97%)
Putts Per Round               31                    29.0
Putting Average (GIR)       1.722                  1.629