Los Angeles ? Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington spent Friday afternoon on opposite sides of Riviera as they played vastly different styles. All they had in common when the second round ended was a share of the lead at the Nissan Open.

Mickelson got hot with his irons on the back nine with back-to-back birdies inside five feet and a mammoth 3-wood from 287 yards that set up an eagle on the 17th hole, sending him to a 6-under 65 and a chance to win for the second straight week.

Harrington only made two pars on his first 10 holes, a round filled with brilliance and bogeys, until he finally settled down to polish off a 68.

They were at 11-under 131, three shots clear of Charles Howell III (65).

Sergio Garcia chipped in for birdie on the 17th on his way to a 68 and was in the group at 7 under that included David Howell (68), Robert Allenby (66) and Pat Perez (69).

Ernie Els had a 68 that left him at 5 under along with Jim Furyk (70), Rich Beem (68), Rocco Mediate (66), Aaron Baddeley (69) and Johnson Wagner (66).