PALM HARBOR, FLA. ? Jeff Sluman and Jonathan Byrd were tied for the lead after two rounds of the Chrysler Championship.

Sluman was eight shots worse than his course-record 62 in the opening round, missing a half-dozen good looks at birdie in shooting a 1-under 70. Byrd blitzed the back nine for the second straight day and shot another 66.

“Some days it’s easy, and some days it’s a little more difficult,” said Sluman, who never had the lead to himself in the second round and wound up tied with Byrd at 10-under 132.

Vijay Singh, moving closer to a $10 million year, had a 69 and was two shots back. Also at 8-under 134 was International winner Rod Pampling (65) and Tommy Armour III (64).

Among those missing the cut was Masters champion Phil Mickelson after a 75. Lefty has played only twice since the Ryder Cup. He had food poisoning in Las Vegas and had to withdraw after two rounds, and he missed his second cut of the year at Innisbrook. At least he improved from last year, when he shot rounds of 80-74.

“I don’t know what to say,” Mickelson said. “It’s a tough course for me to play well on, mainly because I don’t read the greens very well. But it’s a wonderful event. I’m just sorry I didn’t play better.”