The British Open leaderboard, containing most of the biggest names in golf was topped by an unheralded PGA tour pro whose career nearly ended when he chopped off his finger preparing a bagel.
Skip Kendall, 39, fired a joint best-of -the-day 66 to set the second-round pace at seven under par (135). Kendall left the likes of Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen and Colin Montgomerie trailing in his wake at Royal Troon.
Kendall's career nearly ended in 2003 when he accidentally chopped off most of the top of his left index finger while cutting a bagel. Surgeons managed to reattached it and after three months, the American was back in action.
Kendall, still seeking a maiden victory in his 311th tournament, holed a bunker shot on the third and eagled the 16th to card a second round 66 for a one-shot lead over France's Thomas Levet.
Golf's superstars trio - Woods, Els and Singh - are not far behind and poised to strike over the weekend as is US Masters champion Mickelson and US Open holder Goosen.
Woods surrendered two bogeys in his opening nine after missing two relatively easy putts - including one from three feet - to wipe out two early birdies. The world number one then strung nine pars together on the more difficult inward half for a level 71 which kept him one under par after 36 holes.
Elsewhere, Ireland's Darren Clarke, who threw away a share of the overnight lead yesterday with a double bogey on the last hole, failed to live up to his early promise.
After claiming birdies on the fourth and seveth holes, he then hit three bogeys for a round of 72 that left him on one under, six shots behind Kendall.
Paul McGinley was the only other Irishman to make the break after his round of 76 left him on three over. Padraig Harrington's Open dream was ended by the recurrence of a neck injury as he missed the cut, despite shooting a level par round.
