Left is best: Mickelson sinks another putt

The left-hander made up three shots in the outward nine - but a bogey on the 10th and a double-bogey six at the 12th saw him slip back, before he picked up two more birdies to move into joint third spot.

Behind him in joint fourth place were Duval, who was third last year, Argentina's Angel Cabrera, Steve Stricker, Lee Janzen and Japan's Toshi Izawa.

Jose Maria Olzabal - the leading European - was a shot further behind on six under after hitting a 68.

Olazabal had four birdies in five holes from the 11th to charge into the picture.

Darren Clarke is also back in contention after firing a 67 on day two.

The Irishman's dazzling round came to life from the start when he sank a 20-foot putt at the first for a birdie. Further birdies then followed at the 7th, 8th, 10th and 12th holes.

Clarke is back in the frame

Highlight of Clarke's effort was a shot he described as one of the best of his career.

It came on the 485-yard par four 10th. He slightly skied his three wood tee shot and needed a five wood for his second, made all the harder by the fact it was from a downhill lie.

Clarke caught it beautifully and almost holed it, the ball hitting the flagstick and finishing three feet away.

"It was a career five wood," he said. "Any time you shoot 67 at Augusta you've got to be pleased. I hit a lot of good shots and I am very happy with the way I am swinging it."

But former European number one Colin Montgomerie is heading for an early exit after slumping to a 76 for a half-way mark of five over.

But he is in illustrious company, with three-time winner Nick Faldo also missing the cut at six over.

Other famous names to fall by the wayside were Thomas Bjorn, Davis Love III, Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam.

And there was to be no fairytale return for the three great names of the 1960s who delighted the galleries on the opening two days - Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.