Phil Mickelson has missed the cut at the Crowne Plaza Invitational while Bryce Molder leads the field by one shot at the halfway stage at Colonial. (Molder 5/1 in-play to win)

Mickelson could have taken over as the world number one with a good showing in Texas this week, but rounds of 71 and 73 have seen the left-hander miss his first cut for 21 events.

The 39-year-old has already bagged a major this year with victory at the Masters and he is determined to turn this week’s horror show into a positive in the run-up to the year’s second major at Pebble Beach. (13/2 to win US Open)

“I played terrible,” he said. “The course is in great shape. There was no wind and there were a ton of birdies out there. And I didn’t make have many of them. I thought my game was sharper.

“This was a good barometer, though. This starts my run into the US Open. It tells me that I have a lot of work to do.”

Molder added a superb 62 to his first round 65 to sit on 13-under par after his first 36 holes, with Jason Bohn (4/1 to win in-play) just one shot back.

Englishman Brian Davis has carded a 64 and 65 to date and is in currently third at -11 along with American Kris Blanks.

While European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie continues to struggle with his game, his US counterpart Corey Pavin rolled back the years to card a 64 on day two and he is in contention at -9.

Paul Casey is currently four-under while fellow Englishmen Justin Rose and Ian Poulter are on -3 and -2 respectively.