• Arnold Palmer Invitational, Day Two

Mickelson eagle fires him into contention at Bay Hill

Phil Mickelson lines up a putt © Getty Images

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Phil Mickelson hit a magnificent eagle at the par-four eighth as he produced one of the rounds of the day to fire himself into contention at the halfway point of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Friday.

Mickelson began the second round five shots off the lead, but he carded a five-under-par 67 on day two to improve his tournament score to six-under, just one stroke off the top of the leaderboard. Four birdies on the back nine set up the American's round, before the eagle at the eighth ensured he roared into contention at Bay Hill despite hitting three bogeys on the front nine.

Mickelson now trails a group of four players tying for first place, with DJ Trahan, Ben Curtis, Ernie Els and Davis Love III all entering the weekend on seven-under. It was a disappointing day for England's golfers though, with Justin Rose and Greg Owen missing the cut.

Davis Love III had begun the second round as a joint leader on six-under, but he could only manage a one-under 71 on Friday as the breezy conditions played havoc with his swing. Three bogeys on the back nine were followed by three more on the front course as Trahan and Curtis played catch-up.

Curtis arguably produced the round of the day, recovering from bogeys at holes one and two to hit seven birdies in a hugely satisfying 67. Once again Trahan's best work was done on the outward nine holes, following up the five birdies he picked up on Thursday with three more on Friday, before two further birdies and a bogey on his way back to the clubhouse saw him settle for a 68.

Els, who is in sparkling form following his triumph at the WGC-CA Championship, was one of the late starters on Friday, and he enjoyed a fine back nine to card a three-under 69. The South African birdied two of his last three holes to gain a share of the lead.

A group of three players, including Mickelson, sit one stroke off the pace, with Kevin Na and Retief Goosen both on six-under. Goosen has mirrored Mickelson's scores in the opening rounds, but his putting was significantly improved in the second round, needing three less putts despite finding fewer greens in regulation.

Meanwhile, joint first round leader JB Holmes suffered a disastrous second round, hitting two double bogeys to fall three shots off the lead. Holmes eventually carded a two-over 74, ruining some of the good work he did with an opening day 66. Steve Stricker is also on four-under, while Mike Weir remains a danger to the leaders despite bogeying the final hole to go one-over for a 73 to leave himself on four-under.

Elsewhere, Europe's Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie produced another solid round of 71 to go one-under. However, Camilo Villegas, Zach Johnson and Henrik Stenson all miss the cut.

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