Molder sets Colonial pace, Mickelson misses cut

FORT WORTH, Texas (Reuters) - American Bryce Molder birdied five of the last nine holes to move one stroke clear in the Colonial Invitational second round on Friday as Phil Mickelson missed his first PGA Tour cut in more than a year.

The 31-year-old needed only 25 putts on the way to a 13-under total of 127, finishing a stroke in front of compatriot and joint first-round leader Jason Bohn (65).

Molder had a chance to equal the course record of 61 but narrowly missed his birdie attempt from eight feet at the par-four last.

"I thought I was going to make it, it actually felt good," the four-times All-American collegiate player told reporters after shooting his lowest score on the PGA Tour.

"I read it correctly, lined up correctly, felt like I was playing too much break and I kind of just let myself pull it instead of just trusting my line.

"But you certainly get a little bit of excitement when you're shooting a low score," added Molder, whose best Tour finish was a tie for second at last year's St. Jude Championship.

"It's certainly a good position to be in -- one of the last groups on Saturday and have some fun."

ABSCESS REMOVAL

Defending champion Steve Stricker of the United States fired a 67 for a five-under total, one stroke better than 2009 Masters winner Angel Cabrera (68) and British world number eight Paul Casey (70).

Twice winner Mickelson, who would have replaced Tiger Woods as world number one by winning this week, had a day to forget as he battled to a 73 to miss the cut by six shots.

"I played terrible," the four-times major champion said after recording five bogeys and two birdies in ideal scoring conditions. "The course is in great shape.

"There was no wind and there were a ton of birdies out there. And I didn't have many of them. I thought my game was sharper."

Mickelson, who clinched his fourth major crown at last month's Masters, had not missed a cut on the PGA Tour since last year's Houston Open, a run of 21 events.

The cut fell at two-under 138 with American world number five Jim Furyk, U.S. Ryder Cup player Hunter Mahan and PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-eun of South Korea among those missing out.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)