Mickelson maintains two-shot Desert Classic lead

Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson followed up his spectacular first-round 60 with a four-under par 68 to hold a two-shot lead after two rounds of the Desert Classic.

Mickelson birdied four of his last five holes on the Nicklaus Tournament course, one of three par-72 layouts in use in the US PGA Tour tournament in the California desert east of Los Angeles.

He overcame a double-bogey six at the par-four 18th -- his ninth of the day which saw him make the turn at even par for the round.

Mickelson's 16-under total of 128 put him two strokes in front of Australian rookie Curtis Luck, who grabbed his eighth birdie of the day at his final hole -- the ninth -- to post a 66 on the Nicklaus course and a 14-under par total of 130.

Canadian Adam Hadwin and American Steve Marino shared third on 131. Marino had five birdies and an eagle hole-in-one on the par-three seventh on the way to a seven-under par 65 at the La Quinta course.

Hadwin had seven birdies and one bogy in a 66 at La Quinta, where Mickelson fashioned his 60 a day earlier.

"I actually felt better striking it but I didn't putt very well today, certainly relative to yesterday where I was making everything," Mickelson said.

"But I finished strong, birdied four of the last five.

Mickelson, playing his first tournament of 2019, called it a "fun, if not surprising, start" to his year.

"It's fun to be in the mix," said Mickelson, whose two-round total is the second-best of his career, behind the 36-hole total of 125 to start the 2013 Phoenix Open.

Mickelson appeared to be picking up where he left off with back-to-back birdies at the 11th and 12th holes, but his approach at the 18th found the water and he took a double bogey.

- 'Keep firing' -
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"I shot four (under) so I'll just have to come out tomorrow and shoot six or seven (under) to make up for it."