Buick Invitational: Second-round notebook

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SAN DIEGO -- Because more than 78 players made the 36-hole cut of 2 over, a secondary cut will be in effect following Saturday's third round to cut the field to the low-70 and ties. This marks the second straight year that 85 players have made the first cut. The last time fewer than 80 players made the cut at the Buick Invitational was in 2003 (75 players).

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Phil Mickelson is averaging 29 putts per round this week.

Inside the Numbers

36-Hole Leaderboard

Player Score 1. Camilo Villegas 133 -11 2. John Rollins 134 -10 3. Charley Hoffman 137 -7 T4. Nick Watney 138 -6 T4. Paul Goydos 138 -6 T6. Jason Gore 139 -5 T6. Mathew Goggin 139 -5 T6. Bubba Watson 139 -5 T6. Harrison Frazar 139 -5 T6. Luke Donald 139 -5

• Even though he played the more difficult South Course, Camilo Villegas continued to lead the pack in Round 2 of the Buick Invitational following a 2-under 70, good for a one-stroke lead over John Rollins.

• Villegas has previously held at least a share of the 36-hole lead four times. He tied for second at the 2006 Ford Championship at Doral, tied for fifth at the 2006 RBC Canadian Open, tied for 34th at the 2008 FBR Open and went on to win the 2008 BMW Championship.

• History reveals that holding the 36-hole lead at the Buick Invitational isn't necessarily the best position to be in when eyeing victory. Dating back to 1995, just four 36-hole leaders have gone on to win at Torrey Pines: Tiger Woods in 2008, Phil Mickelson in 2000 and 2001, and Mark O'Meara in 1997.

• While Villegas continued his assault on the Buick Invitational field in Round 2, brother Manny was competing in the first Nationwide Tour event of the season in Panama, as that Tour celebrates its 20th anniversary. The younger Villegas shot a 1-over 71 and 4-over 74 to finish the first two rounds at 5 over, missing the cut.

• It may be playing significantly harder than the North Course, but Rollins posted the low-round of the tournament on the South Course with an 8-under 64, highlighted by an eagle-2 from 124 yards at the par-4 fifth hole. He sits in second place, just one shot off Villegas' 11-under lead.

• The 64 is one-stroke shy of his career low of 63, which he most recently carded in the final round of the 2007 FBR Open. This is his lowest round since carding that 63 at the FBR Open in 2007.

• Rollins is making up for a slow start to the 2009 season, having missed the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii and finishing tied for 70th at last week's FBR Open

• San Diego native Charley Hoffman fired a 6-under 66 on the North Course to move from a tie for 33rd to third place. Hoffman, who lost on the third hole of sudden death to Kenny Perry at last week's FBR Open, hit just six of 14 fairways, but managed to hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation.

• Uncharacteristically, two-time Buick Invitational winner Mickelson bogeyed three of the first four par 5s on the easier North Course. Following a birdie-4 at the final hole, Mickelson posted an even-par 72 to enter the weekend nine strokes back of Villegas.

• Luke Donald, who finished runner-up in the 2004 and 2005 Buick Invitational, is positioning himself well for the weekend. Following an opening-round 2-under 70, he bettered that by a stroke on Friday with a 3-under 69 on the North Course.

• Eric Axley withdrew following his first round Thursday because of sickness. Daniel Chopra and Wes Short, Jr. withdrew in the middle of the second round due to sickness, while Arron Oberholser withdrew in the middle of his second round with a nagging wrist injury

• There are two amateurs in the field this week. Josh Anderson of San Diego fired 73-74 (+3) to miss the cut, while Gregor Main of Danville, Calif., carded 70-75 (+1) to make the cut. The last amateur to make the cut at the Buick Invitational was Jamie Lovemark, who did so last year.

• There were no bogey-free rounds on Friday.

• Through two rounds, the scoring average on the South Course is 74.091, while the average on the North Course is 71.880.