MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Phil Mickelson is looking a bit more at ease, the golf course providing some of the distraction he wanted while his wife deals with breast cancer.

Now if he can just get his putter back under control.

Mickelson just missed a couple birdie attempts yesterday, then cost himself a stroke when a par putt lipped out. Not that he got the chance to correct his stroke during the second round of the St. Jude Classic. He marked his tee shot in the 16th fairway, got a ride off the course and jumped into his car after play was stopped ahead of thunderstorms that had tornado sirens wailing.

Play was halted and fans and players were cleared from the TPC Southwind course. Tornado sirens then went off approximately 40 minutes after play was stopped with the storm tossing equipment around the course and knocking power out in parts of town.

Brian Gay held the clubhouse lead after a 4-under 66 put him at 10-under 130 through 36 holes, two strokes ahead of Robert Allenby and Bryce Molder (63), with Allenby having three holes to play. A total of 78 golfers still must finish when the second round resumes this morning.

Mickelson was at 4 under with three birdies and a bogey in his first event since announcing his wife Amy has breast cancer.

"The star this week is Phil Mickelson," said John Senden, who shot a 66—135.

KARLSSON OUT OF OPEN

Robert Karlsson of Sweden has withdrawn from the U.S. Open next week at Bethpage Black because of an eye infection which has left him with no depth perception in his left eye.

Karlsson is No. 14 in the world ranking and is coming off a year in which he became the first Swede to win the Order of Merit on the European Tour.

Andrew Svoboda will replace him, the second straight year he has gotten into the Open as an alternate.

FALDO KNIGHTED

Nick Faldo can add another title to his six majors — "Sir."

Faldo will be given a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II today for his services to golf, the only athlete to be given one of Britain's highest honors on the monarch's birthday list this year.

"I was delighted to hear the news that I will be receiving a knighthood and am more than a little bit humbled to have been afforded this great honor," Faldo said.

Faldo, 51, only the second professional golfer to receive a knighthood following Sir Henry Cotton in 1988, won his first professional title in 1977 and added 46 more wins — including three Masters and three British Opens.