SCOTT'S NOT LARKIN ABOUT! HE LEADS
LEVEN GOLD MEDAL AT HALFWAY

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Banchory-based Scott Larkin, a member of the North-east District squad that won the
Scottish area team championship earlier this summer, is on the trail of some
individual glory. He leads the field by one shot at the halfway stage of a low
scoring Standard Life Leven Golf Medal, a 72-hole SGU Order of Merit event.
Larkin has come home from four years at an American college a better player than
he was before he left Scotland.
Larkin, now a member of Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, demonstrated that again with
a pair of 67s for an eight-under par tally of 134.
Mind you, he still has a lot of work to do over Sunday's final two rounds over
the Leven Links in Fife.
Now fewer than six players are breathing down his neck, one shot in arrears -
Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs and St Andrews University), Mark Hillson
(Craigielaw), Chris Lawton (Falkirk Tryst), Scotland boy international Scott
Gibson (Southerness) and Jordan McColl (Scotscraig), who has turned in
some good performances on the US college circuit over the past year and
showed up well in the Scottish amateur championship at Gullane recently.
It could all change within a round, just ask first-round leader Ross Bell (Downfield)
who won the Scottish champion of champions four-round tournament
over the same Fife links in April. He slumped from a 65 to a 73 on the
second circuit and, on 138, he is four shots off the pace.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71). CSS 71 71
134 Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen) 67 67.
135 Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 70 65, Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) 69 66, Michael Main
(Thornton) 68 67, Chris Lawton (Falkirk Tryst) 68 67, Scott Gibson (Southerness) 66 69,
Jordan McColl (Scotscraig) 66 69.
136 Scott Stewart-Cation (Balbirnie Park) 69 67, Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 67 69.
137 Martin Brown (Monifieth) 70 67, Greg Nicholson (Mortonhall) 68 69.
138 Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 70 68, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 69 69, John Wybar
(Aldeburgh) 69 69, Ross Bell (Downfield) 65 73.
139 James Ross (Royal Burgess) 70 69, David Mitchell (Leven Thistle) 68 71,
John Duff (Newmachar) 68 71.
140 Neil Henderson (Glen) 75 65, Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 73 67, Michael Daily
(Erskine) 69 71, Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 69 71, James Hendrick (Pollok),
Paul Betty (Lenzie) 67 73.
141 Chris Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) 74 67, Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth) 73 69,
Stephen Machin (Cowglen) 71 70, Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) 71 70, Scott
Michie (Kinross) 70 71, Duncan Martin (Longniddry) 69 72, Colin Martin (Balbirnie
Park) 68 73, Brian Erskine (Merchants of Edinburgh) 68 73, Ian Bell (Scotscraig)
66 75.
142 Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 73 69, Keith Shanks (Briar Ridge) 72 70, Adam
Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 71 71, Alex Main (Thornton) 68 74.
143 Stuart Graham (Blairgowrie) 73 70, Robert Jenkins (Crow Wood) 72 71,
Grant McNab (Lundin) 71 72, Mark Anderson (Leven Thistle) 70 73, Steven
Rennie (Drumpellier) 70 73, Stephen Speirs (Australia) 69 74.
MISSED THE CUT
144 Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) 72 72, Aaron Howard (Glenearn) 70 74,
David Law (Hazlehead) 70 74, Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 69 75.
145 Richard Gill (Craigmillar Park) 77 69, Kristoger Harper (Carnoustie)
73 72, Myles Cunningham (Craigielaw) 73 72, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire)
72 73, Dean Muir (Dunbar) 72 73, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 70 75,
Graham Robertson (Silverknowes) 70 75.
146 Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) 74 72, Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle 74 72.
147 Grant Carnie (Newburgh on Ythan) 72 75, Alexander Culverwell
(Dunbar) 69 78.
148 Andrew Weir (Montrose Mercanilte) 78 70, Barry McDermott (unatt)
74 74.
149 Bryan Graham (Kelso) 75 74, Ed Wood (Crow Wood) 73 76.
150 Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) 78 72.
152 Noah Ratner (Asheville Municipal) 77 75, James Oliphant (Oliva
Nova) 76 76.
154 George Brass (Blairgowrie) 79 75, Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire
Co) 79 75.
156 Matthew Dowling (Green Acres) 82 74, Daniel Lawrence (Ballumbie
Castle 81 75.
NRs: Stephen Simants (Dunbar) 77 NR, Darren Hulston (Dollar) 77 NR,
Allan Sutherland (Ladybank) 79 NR.


ends

Jim Watt wins close finish at South of Scotland seniors

Edzell's Jim Watt won the South of Scotland seniors' two-round stroke-play competition at Dumfries and County Golf Club.
Jim had rounds of 70 and 69 for a total of 139 - the CSS was 69-70 - andhe won by one shot from three players: Stephen Ellis (Innellan), Phil Dempsey (Tulliallan) and home-course man Ian Brotherston.
Ellis, playing off 3, had the best net aggregate of 134, one shot ahead of two-handicap Watt and two better than third-placed Dempsey, who plays off two.
Tony Nicol (Elderslie) had a hole in one at "The Wee Yin," the par-3 14th, measuring only 90yd.
LEADING TOTALS
CSS 69 70
139 Jim Watt (Edzell) 70 69.
140 Stephen Ellis (Innellan) 70 70, Phil Dempsey (Tulliallan) 69 71, Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co) 65 75.
141 Alan O'Neill (West Lotian) 70 71.
142 Muir Townsley (Dumfries and Co) 71 71, Lindsay Blair (Grangemouoth) 70 72.
143 George Blair (Haddington) 73 70.
144 Brian Smith (Kilmacolm) 72 72, Alistair Fiddes (Deeside0 71 73, David Gardner (Broomieknowe) 71 73.
145 Tony Staffored (Gleneagles Dunochil) 74 71, Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) 73 72, Ian Jeen (Milngavie) 71 74, Glyn Rees (Fleetwood) 68 77.
146 Alistair Harkness (Southerness) 72 74, James Kinloch (Cardross) 71 75, Tony Clark (Dumfries and Co) 70 76.
147 John W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 71 71, Len Grindrod (Crow Wood) 74 73, Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) 72 75.

BEST NET TOTALS
134 Stephen Ellis (Innellan) (3) 67 67.
135 Jim Watt (Edzell) (2) 68 67.
136 Phil Dempsey (Tulliallan) (2) 67 69.

Lucas is Great Dane in European amateur golf

Denmark's Lucas Bjerregaard, hardly one of the houshold names of Continental amateur golf, won the European men's individual amateur title in Finland today with an excellent aggregate of 15-under-par 273.
He had scores of 68, 71, 64 and 70 - that very low third round was decisive in the final analysis - to win by one shot from English champion Tommy Fleetwood and Italy's Andrea Pavan.
James Byrne from Banchory finished 11th on 281. Ross Kellett, last year's runner-up, tied for 28th place and Kris Nicol was placed 57th.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
273 Lucas Bjerregaard (Denmark) 68 71 64 70.
274 Andrea Pavan (Italy) 72 66 69 67, Tommy Fleetwood (England) 69 67 69 69.
SCOTS' SCORES:
281 James Byrne 69 70 71 71 (11th).
286 Ross Kellett 74 71 71 70 (jt 28th).
293 Kris Nicol 75 72 71 75 (57th).

TO SEE ALL THE FINAL TOTALS, CLICK HERE

STANDARD LIFE GOLD MEDAL

Ross rings the bell again on return to Leven


Dundee’s Ross Bell, winner of the Scottish champion of champions’ title in April over the Leven links, returned to his happy hunting ground to take the first round lead today (Saturday) in the Standard Life Leven Gold Medal.
On a day of low scoring Bell shot a six-under-par 65 but that only gave him a one shot lead from three players breathing down his neck, Scotland boy international Scott Gibson (Southerness) and two Scotscraig members, US college student Jordan McColl and Ian Bell.
Some 26 players took advantage of the ideal scoring conditions to break 70 and it looked as if the halfway cut figure in this 72-hole Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit event would be exceptionally low.
Title-holder Phillip McLean (Peterhead) could not defend as he was competing in the European men’s individual amateur championship in Finland, although he missed the cut on Friday.


FIRST ROUND
Par 71. CSS 71
65 Ross Bell (Downfield).
66 Scott Gibson (Southerness), Jordan McColl (Scotscraig), Ian Bell (Scotscraig).
67 Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen), Fraser McKenna (Balmore), Paul Betty (Lenzie), Chris Lawton (Falkirk Tryst).
68 John Duff (Newmachar), Alex Main (Thornton), Michael Main (Thornton), Greg Nicholson (Mortonhall), David Mitchell (Leven Thistle), Brian Erskine (Merchants of Edinburgh), James Hendrick (Pollok), Colin Martin (Balbirnie Park).
69 Michael Daily (Erskine), Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon), Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar), Stephen Speirs (Australia), Scott Stewart-Cation (Balbirnie Park), Mark Hillson (Craigielaw), Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie), Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle), John Wybar (Aldeburgh), Duncan Martin (Longniddry).
70 David Law (Hazlehead), Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs), James Ross (Royal Burgess), Martin Brown (Monifieth), Aaron Howard (Glenearn), Graham Robertson (Silverknowes), Scott Michie (Kinross), Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Steven Rennie (Drumpellier), Mark Anderson (Leven Thistle), Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie).
71 Grant McNab (Leven), Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), Stephen Machin (Cowglen), Gordon Yates (Hilton Park).
72 Grant Carnie (Newburgh on Ythan), Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire), Mark Bookless (Sandyhills), Dean Muir (Dunbar), Keith Shanks (US), Robert Jenkins (Leven).
73 Myles Cunningham (Craigielaw), Ed Wood (Crow Wood), Kristofer Harper (Carnoustie), Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth), Stuart Graham (Blairgowrie), Scott Crichton (Aberdour), Scott Borrowman (Dollar).
74 Barry McDermott (Leven GS), Fraser Moore (Glenbervie), Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle), Chris Harkins (Ayr Belleisle).
75 Bryan Graham (Kelso), Neil Henderson (Glen).
76 James Oliphant (Leven).
77 Richard Gill (Craigmillar Park), Noah Ratner (US), Darren Hulston (Dollar), Stephen Simants (Dunbar).
78 Chris Robb (Inchmarlo), Andrew Weir (Montrose Mercantile).
79 Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co), Allan Sutherland (Ladybank), George Brass (Blairgowrie).
81 Daniel Lawrence (Ballumbie Castle).
82 Matthew Dowling (Green Acres).

Alps Tour event reduced to 36 holes - Hume misses 18-hole cut

The Alps Tour event - the Uniqa Financelife Open - in which Perthshire pair Gavin Dear and Steven Hume are playing has had to be reduced from three to two rounds. There was no play today because of flooding on the Diamond course.
A cut was made, limiting Sunday's final to the best 40 players after 18 holes.
Dear was OK with his 70 for a share of fifth place at the end of first round but Hume was right out of luck.
He was in joint 41st position after a Friday score of  76 - so he has missed out on playing in the final round. No pay day for Steven from this one.

Marrakesh, Morocco Golf Fesitval - October 9 to 16, 2010

Who's all going?

Find out by switching over to see the list of entries on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

There's still time to add your name to the list.

UNITED STATES CHAMPIONS (Seniors) TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minneapolis, Minnesota
FIRST ROUND
Par 72
63 Tommy Armour III
64 Mark Calcavecchia, David Frost (Rsa)
65 John Cook, Jeff Sluman
66 Tom Jenkins, David Peoples, Nick Price (Zim), Hal Sutton
67 Steve Haskins, Bruce Vaughan, Russ Cochran, Keith Fergus, John Jacobs, Wayne Levi
68 Kirk Hanefeld, Bernhard Langer (Ger), Gil Morgan, Denis Watson (Zim), Fred Funk, Mark O'Meara, Ted Schulz, Dana Quigley, Larry Mize
69 Michael Allen, Scott Simpson, Olin Browne, James Mason, Larry Nelson, Morris Hatalsky, Tim Simpson
70 Mike Goodes, John Ross, Bob Gilder, Mark Carnevale, Jim Rutledge (Can), Don Pooley
71 Mike McCullough, Andy Bean, Craig Stadler, Joe Ozaki (Jpn), Bob Tway, Bruce Fleisher, Chip Beck, Mark Wiebe
72 Mitch Adcock, R.W. Eaks, Jim Roy, Bobby Clampett, Jim Chancey, Bruce Lietzke, Dan Forsman, Bill Glasson, Jay Haas
73 Fulton Allem (Rsa), Joey Sindelar, Tom Kite, Mike Hulbert, J.L. Lewis, Mike Barge, Jay Sigel, Brad Bryant, Tom Purtzer
74 Ben Crenshaw, Blaine McCallister, Peter Senior (Aus), Keith Clearwater, Bobby Wadkins
75 Phil Blackmar, D A Weibring, Graham Marsh (Aus), Fuzzy Zoeller, Jim Dent, Hale Irwin
76 John Harris
77 Dave Eichelberger
79 Gene Jones
80 Ronnie Black

US PGA TOUR SCOREBOARD
TURNING STONE RESORT CHAMPIONSHIP
Atunyote Golf Club, Verona, Oneida County, New York
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
134 Alex Cejka (Ger) 66 68
135 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 65 70, Chris Tidland 66 69
137 Brian Davis (Eng) 66 71, Omar Uresti 65 72, Robert Garrigus 68 69, Woody Austin 68 69, John Mallinger 67 70, Steve Elkington (Aus) 66 71
138 Michael Bradley 67 71, Charley Hoffman 71 67, Billy Mayfair 70 68, Josh Teater 71 67
139 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 69 70, J J Henry 69 70, Aron Price (Aus) 70 69, Dean Wilson 72 67, Craig Barlow 68 71, Brett Wetterich 69 70
140 Chris Couch 67 73, Graham Delaet (Can) 72 68, Matt Bettencourt 68 72, Alex Prugh 72 68, Brett Quigley 69 71, Tim Petrovic 71 69, Craig Bowden 71 69, Stephen Ames (Can) 72 68, Jerry Kelly 70 70, Michael Sim (Aus) 69 71, Jason Dufner 67 73, John Merrick 69 71, John Senden (Aus) 70 70, Chris DiMarco 68 72, Cameron Percy (Aus) 72 68, Michael Connell 72 68, Glen Day 68 72, D.J. Trahan 71 69
141 Marco Dawson 71 70, Bill Lunde 73 68, David Toms 68 73, David Duval 70 71, Brenden Pappas (Rsa) 75 66, Steve Wheatcroft 67 74, James Nitties (Aus) 70 71, Charles Howell III 72 69, Nathan Green (Aus) 70 71, Nicholas Thompson 69 72, Brendon De Jonge 70 71, Tim Herron 69 72, Scott Piercy 71 70, Garrett Willis 68 73, Tom Pernice Jnr. 70 71, D.A. Points 73 68, Brad Faxon 66 75, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 70 71, Troy Merritt 72 69
142 Charles Warren 72 70, Scott McCarron 72 70, Chris Stroud 71 71, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 73 69, Garth Mulroy (Rsa) 73 69, Vaughn Taylor 72 70, Joe Ogilvie 72 70, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 67 75, Will MacKenzie 69 73, Billy Hurley III 69 73, Bob Estes 73 69, Henrik Bjornstad (Nor) 72 70, Jay Williamson 72 70, Tom Gillis 70 72, Carlos Franco (Par) 72 70, Jonathan Byrd 67 75
MISSED THE CUT
143 Brent Delahoussaye 69 74, Kent Jones 70 73, Kirk Triplett 74 69, Jeff Gove 71 72, Steve Lowery 69 74, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 70 73, Todd Hamilton 68 75, Webb Simpson 71 72, Mark Wilson 71 72, George McNeill 69 74, Roland Thatcher 71 72, Briny Baird 69 74, Rocco Mediate 72 71, Rich Barcelo 74 69
144 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 71 73, Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 71 73, Chad Collins 69 75, Steve Flesch 70 74, Shaun Micheel 73 71, Bryce Molder 71 73, Greg Owen (Eng) 72 72, Johnson Wagner 73 71, Cameron Tringale 74 70
145 Joe Durant 71 74, Martin Flores 72 73, Jeff Quinney 73 72, Cliff Kresge 71 74, Michael Clark II 72 73, Kevin Streelman 68 77
146 Michael Letzig 75 71, Paul Stankowski 72 74, Kevin Johnson 74 72, Gary Woodland 71 75, Ted Purdy 68 78, Mark Hensby (Aus) 73 73, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 73 73, John Morse 72 74, Skip Kendall 70 76
147 David Lutterus (Rsa) 71 76, Chris Wilson 73 74, Andres Romero (Arg) 72 75, Guy Boros 72 75, Vance Veazey 71 76
148 Robert Gamez 73 75, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 70 78, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 74 74, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 74 74
149 Brian Stuard 73 76, Gavin Hall 78 71, James Driscoll 74 75
151 Mike Small 74 77, Notah Begay III 75 76, Roger Tambellini 73 78
152 Chris Smith 75 77
153 Hiroyuki Fujita (Jpn) 75 78
154 Justin Bolli 79 75
155 Kevin Savage 77 78, Dick Mast 83 72
WD: Kris Blanks, Jerod Turner

ABERDEEN QUAICH REPORT

By Roy Witteveen
Hazlehead Golf Club secretary
The results of the first day of the Quaich. Weather held good and course and greens were well prepared for the tournament. All are happy to have the Quaich back.

Some 120 contestants played in the 3 competitions, Gents, Ladies and Juniors.
David Law led the field with a gross 66 on course 1 and a gross 66 on course 2. Alas David could not stay to defend the cup and play the matches due to earlier commitments.
Abbreviations:
A=Alford, AL=Aberdeen Ladies, C=Caledonian, Cr=Craibstone, D=Deeside, G=Grantown, Hw=Hawick, Hz=Hazlehead, Im=Inschmarlo, K=Kintore, L=Leigh, Mc=McDonald, Me= Meldrum, Mu=Murcar, Nb=Newburgh, Nm=Newmacher, No=Northern, P=Peterculter, Po=Porthlethen, R=Roxburg, RA=Royal Aberdeen, S=Scotscraig, T=Tarland, W=Westhill

MEN SCRATCH MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
(D Law (Ha) 66 66 132;(Non Qualifying)
1 Scott Robertson (Hazlehead) (1) 70 66 136
2 Mike Lynch,Cr,(1) 72 70 142
3 S Finnie,Ca,(0) 73 69 142
4 Donald McAndrew,RA,(0),74,68 142
5 Doug Elrick,Ha,(3),73,70 143
6 E Duthie,Ha,(4),72,73 145
7 A McKenzie,Nm,(6),73,72 145
8 Kevin Duthie,Ha,(1),74,71 145
9 Stuart MackIntosh,Ha,(5),68 77 145
10 K Zeynalov,Pl,(5),72,75 147
11 Greg Reid Mc,(2),73,74 147
12 T Robertson,No,(2),75,73 148
13 D Ogston,Ha,(4),77,71 148
14 Kevin Allan,Ha,(3),77,71 148]
15 Jamie Tinlin,Hw,(5),73,75 148
16 Micheal Winton,Ha,(6),70,79 149

MEN HANDICAP QUALIFIERS
1 M Booth,Ha,(15),66,65,131
2 Neil McLennan,Sg,(11),67,68 135
3 Donald Cross,Le,(6),72,65,137
4 K Booth,Ha,(6),68,70,138
6 Jordan Laing,Ha,(6),67,72,139
7 P Morrison,Md,(6),69,70,139
8 C Cooper,Nm,(5),69,71,140
9 William Blacklock,Hw,(17),75,65 140
10 G Mead,Pc,(6),71,70 141
11 Stuart Duncan,Ha,(10),70,71 141
12 R Newcombe,Im,(12),73,68 141
13 Andrew Milne,Nm,(9),73,69 142
14 Gordon Duncan,Ha,(19),72,70 142
15 Greg Moir,Nm,(20),73,70 143
16 Dean Gardiner,Ca,(3),72,72 144;

WOMEN SCRATCH MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
1 S Wood,AL,(2) 72
2 Claire Prouse,Ha,(5) 77
3 Leslie Thompson,Ha,(11) 80
4 Megan Clyne,D,(5) 86
5 E Whyte,AL,(8) 86
6 Michelle Finnie,Ha,(10) 87
7 Fiona Prouse,Ha,(10) 89
8 C Ross,T,(9) 90

WOMEN HANDICAP MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
1 Jenny Martin,Ca,(17) 74
2 K Thow,Ha,(20) 76
3 I Coyle,Ha,(16) 77
4 Lena Ingram,Ha,(19) 77
5 L McNiven,AL,(15) 78
6 A Fraser,Wh,(18) 79
7 Sarah Beatie,Pl,(10) 80
8 J Selbie,Pl,(19) 81;

JUNIORS - FIRST ROUND STROKE-PLAY

1 Cameron Elphinstone,Ha,(19) 58
2 Kyle Duthie,Ha,(36) 64
3 Fraser Grant,Ha,(6) 64
4 Barry Riley,Ha,(15) 66;

SUNDAY AFTERNOON FINAL TEE TIMES

1pm MEN'S SCRATCH FINAL
1.10pm WOMEN'S SCRATCH FINAL.
1.20pm MEN'S HANDICAP FINAL.
1.30pm WOMEN'S HANDICAP FINAL

Angus under 14s boys fall just short on visit to Glencorse

The annual match between Angus and Lothians under 14s was keenly contested at the magnificent Glencorse Golf Club on Friday
With the Angus boys determined to put last year's heavy defeat behind them, they shared the morning foursomes with 1.5 points each.
The first three singles of the afternoon went to the Lothians with some impressive play, Angus responded by winning matches 4 and 5, leaving Angus anchor man Mac Duncan with a chance at the last from 8 feet to tie the match which unfortunatly sat on the lip without dropping.


RESULTS

LOTHIANS 5, ANGUS 4

 FOURSOMES
Murray Naysmith (Dalmahoy) and Chris Algeo (Longniddry) bt Jamie Beedie(Montrose) and Findlay Soutar (Montrose) 4 and 3
Callum Cochrane (Dalmahoy) and Ruairi Thain (West Linton) halved with Aaron Stephen (Montrose) and Mark Howie (Ballumbie).
Chris Curran (Harburn) and Andrew Ni (Murrayfield) lost to Andrew Gibson(Downfield) and Mac Duncan (Monifieth) 2 and 1


SINGLES
Naysmith bt Beedie 5 and 4
Algeo bt Soutar 2 and 1
Cochrane bt Stephen 5 and 3
Curran lost to Howie 3 and 1
Ni lost to Gibson 2 and 1
Thain halved with Duncan

Tiger Woods' ranking in jeopardy as Mickelson makes running

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE 
By TRENT BAKER
TIGER Woods' hopes of fending off Phil Mickelson's bid to replace him at the top of the world rankings suffered another setback on the second day of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
The American carded an over-par round for the second day running as he slumped to six-over and near to the foot of the leaderboard following a second-round 72.
Mickelson, along with England's Lee Westwood, has the chance to depose Woods as world No 1 this weekend and can do so with a top-four finish coupled with Woods finishing outside the top 44.
Woods certainly appears set to uphold his end of the bargain, while Mickelson was in a tie for fourth place on five-under overall after picking up a birdie over the opening two holes of his second round yesterday.
Westwood's threat to Woods' ranking is almost certainly over, however, after he shot a dismal second-round 76 to slip a shot behind the American at seven-over par and then retired with a calf injury. He could be out of action for weeks.
Fourteen-time major winner Woods carded birdies on the 15th, sixth and ninth, but five bogeys sabotaged his round to leave his 270-week reign as world number one hanging by a thread.
Westwood's hopes of usurping Woods faded within minutes of his second round getting under way, with bogeys at his first two holes - the 10th and 11th - setting the tone.
Five bogeys and just one birdie over the remaining holes continued the misery for the Englishman.
With no cut at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio Woods will have the opportunity to redeem himself this weekend, although he will not be a threat to the leaders, with clubhouse pacesetter Retief Goosen on seven-under par after a second-round 66.
The South African's round featured five birdies and a bogey on the 18th as he led the way by a stroke from America's Justin Leonard, who also posted a four-under 66 yesterday.
Overnight leader Bubba Watson was at even par through five holes of his second round as he kept himself well in contention.
Mickelson's early exploits moved him into a share of fourth place alongside Sweden's Peter Hanson, who shot a four-under 66, and America's Bo Van Pelt, who shot 68 to follow Thursday's three-under-par effort.
Australia's Adam Scott, England's Paul Casey, Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, American Nick Watney and last year's US Open champion Lucas Glover were all back in the clubhouse and tied for seventh place after moving to four-under overall.
After shootiing 74 on the opening day - his worst round ever on the course and in the tournament he's won no less than seven times - Woods noted: "Just because I like the course doesn't mean I'm going to play well on it. You still have to execute."
Watson did just that in his opening round, needing just 22 putts to shoot his lowest first-round score of the year.