'Two gloves' Gainey has strong grip on lead

Nationwide Tour graduate Tommy Gainey, renowned for his unconventional two-gloved grip, charged into a one-shot lead in the second round of the frost-delayed Phoenix Open on Saturday.

Co-leader overnight with fellow American Mark Wilson with nine holes to play, Gainey completed a six-under-par 66 at TPC Scottsdale, where the weather-hit tournament will finish today. Gainey, who is nicknamed "Two Gloves", covered his back nine in three-under on a chilly but sunny day to post a 14-under total of 128, 11 ahead of Scotland's Martin Laird.

Wilson, winner of last month's Sony Open in Hawaii, was alone in second after carding a 64 with compatriot Bill Haas (65) a further stroke back at 12-under. World No 4 Phil Mickelson, champion here in 1996 and 2005, returned a 65 to lie four strokes off the pace, level with US Ryder Cup team-mate Rickie Fowler, who fired a best-of-the-week 62.

Journeyman Gainey, who won twice on last year's satellite Nationwide Tour, said: "I'm feeling really good right now. My ball-striking is really good. I hit a couple of bad shots today, but they weren't bad enough to get in any trouble. I like my position."