Live Report: CA Championship, Round 2 (PGATOUR.com)

March 12, 2010

Phil Mickelson (left) and Rory McIlroy tee off at 9:34 a.m. ET.

BACK ON TOP (9:08 a.m.): An hour into the second round and two players have joined Charl Schwartzel at the top of the leaderboard.

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Vijay Singh got up and down for birdie from the greenside bunker at the par-5 10th hole to move to 5 under. Ditto for Ernie Els, who is two groups behind.

That should take the taste of the 18th hole on Thursday out of their mouths. Singh had held sole possession of the lead when he came to what is annually one of the toughest holes on the PGA TOUR while Els was tied.

Singh hit his drive there into the water and went on to make double bogey while Els’ second shot found the lake on the way to a bogey. So Schwartzel, who tees off at 9:24 a.m., was in the lead alone overnight.—Helen Ross

PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES (9:03 a.m.): If history is any indication, Charl Schwartzel has a 40 percent chance of emerging as this week’s champion.

In the 10 previous CA Championships, the first-round leader/co-leader has gone on to win four times. Schwartzel, who tees off in about 20 minutes off the first tee at TPC Blue Monster, grabbed the first-round lead Thursday with a bogey-free 5-under 67.

Year Champion First-round score First-round status 2002 Tiger Woods 65 (-7) Led by 1 stroke over Lowery, Toms 2006 Tiger Woods 63 (-8) Led by 1 stroke over Harrington, Poulter 2008 Geoff Ogilvy 65 (-7) Tied with Jimenez 2009 Phil Mickelson 65 (-7) Tied with Goosen, J.M. Singh, Marksaeng

ROUND 2 WEATHER (8:31 a.m.)—So far, so good. As the second round of the World Golf Championships-CA Championship gets under way, the skies are gray but no rain is falling.

It looks like the worst of the weather won’t arrive until around noon—when the final groups are making the turn. There is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms until noon when it switches to 80 percent for the rest of the day.

The rain is expected to be heavy at times and the accumulation could be more than 1 ½ inches. Temperatures will be in the lower 80s and the winds will again be gusty in the 15-25 mph range. The skies will clear and the sun returns for the weekend.—Helen Ross

Groups We’re Watching Tee time Players 8:42 a.m. ET,No. 10 Steve Stricker, Ernie Els, Sergio GarciaEls had designs on the lead until finding the water at 18. Stricker (1 over) and Garcia (2 over) aren’t out of it yet. 9:24 a.m. ET,No. 1 Charl Schwartzel, David Toms, Nick Watney Can Schwartzel keep his hot 2010 start going? Toms (T24) and Watney (T36) hope it rubs off. 9:34 a.m. ET,No. 1 Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen, Rory McIlroyMickelson, without practicing, opened with a 71. McIlroy and Goosen must improve upon 76s. MORE ROUND 1: Tee times | Inside the field | Inside the coursesFANTASY GOLF: Power Rankings | Fantasy Insider | Play our game … free! Play TPC Blue Monster at Doral TPC BLUE MONSTER AT DORAL: The 467-yard 18th hole at TPC Blue Monster at Doral will look a lot less intimidating without huge galleries around it, but the experience will still be worthwhile. You can tame the TPC Blue Monster and experience the course in tournament condition after the World Golf Championships-CA Championship. Enjoy 2 nights/2 rounds from $405 per player—a savings of $270!Click here for package information, tee times, more | Book a golf package