After just missing history in the bright sunshine of early evening in the first round, Phil Mickelson continued his push for a second British Open title in a chilling rain on Friday morning, recording a two-under-par 69 to take the clubhouse lead at 10-under in the second round.

Unlike Thursday, when it was warm and the wind was little more than a soft breeze at Royal Troon, Friday was more in line with what is expected at the British Open: Many players teed off in rain pants, waterproof jackets and winter hats. Mickelson played much of his round with black wet-weather gloves on both hands.

Mickelson followed up his blistering opening round of 63 – his putt to become the first player to shoot 62 in a major tournament lipped out, brutally, on the 18th green – with a steady, smart approach to this links course on the west coast of Scotland. Mickelson, whose last win came three years ago at the British Open at Muirfield, did not make his first bogey of the tournament until the 12th hole Friday. He often used irons or a lofted wood instead of his driver off the tee, minimizing his risk of trickling into one of Troon’s diabolical pot bunkers.

Mickelson made three birdies on the opening nine holes on Friday, scoring at the par-5 4th hole, par-4 7th hole and – most dramatically – at the tiny par-3 8th. The Postage Stamp, as it is known, measures a short 123 yards but, depending on the wind and pin placement, can nonetheless be an ordeal. Mickelson slickly avoided the bunkers around the green by whipping his shot just left the hole before watching it turn and trickle back toward the cup. It stopped inches away, giving Mickelson a tap-in for his 2.

Of the seven previous players to open a major tournament with a 63, only two managed to break par in their next round. Mickelson, however, was not moved by the expectations that arrived with his Thursday performance. He birdied the par-3 14th hole and made an excellent par save after hitting his tee shot in a bunker on No. 17 before finishing up with a par on the closing hole.

Confident because of his previous success in the Open, he says he feels like he is in strong position heading into the weekend.

“I’d like nothing more than to add another one, but knowing that I’ve already done it,” Mickelson said, “it kind of takes the pressure off.”

Mickelson was not the only one scoring in the wet weather. Henrik Stenson finished with 65 to trail Mickelson by one stroke. The American Keegan Bradley and Soren Kjeldsen, a Dane, shot 68s and were both at 7-under. Zach Johnson, the defending Open champion, is at 5-under.

Many players wore black ribbons on their hats in acknowledgment of the victims of the terrorist attack in Nice, France, that shook Europe and elsewhere on Thursday night. In Nice, a popular French vacation destination, a large white truck plowed through a large crowd of people – including children – celebrating Bastille Day, killing at least 84 and injuring many more.

Clement Sordet, one of two French players in the field, wrote “Pray for Nice” in blue marker on his hat before teeing off. François Hollande, the French president, called for three days of national mourning after the tragedy, which was the third major terrorist attack in France since January of last year. The French flag at the tournament here – like all flags in France – was flown at half-staff on Friday.

Sordet, who is from Nice, said the attack took place about 500 meters from where he lives and added: “It’s a really sad situation. I give my thoughts to all the families and to the people who died.” – nytimes.com