- Annika Sorenstam’s second-round 67 at the SBS Open was a statement-maker (for reasons why, see yesterday’s notes) and easily overshadowed the 36-hole efforts of the player she shares the lead with, Erica Blasberg.  But for Blasberg, a former two-time collegiate and AJGA All-American, the first two rounds at Turtle Bay represent a professional breakthrough, for despite her glittering credentials, the 23-year-old has never bettered a T18 on the LPGA Tour and, over three full seasons (2005-07), has finished 109th, 112th and 104th on the money list.  It goes without saying what a big finish would mean to her career – and with the SBS being only a 54-hole event, she now needs only one more big round instead of two.

- In the current Week Ahead preview, I made the none-too-bold prediction that scores would be low at the Indonesia Open, and lo and behold…  In a limited field headed by world number 73 Mikko Ilonen (so much for Monty being a listed entry), the 6,896-yard, par-70 Cengkareng Golf Club has once again proven itself a shooting gallery, with first- and second-round leaders James Kamte and Felipe Aguilar both shooting 62s, and a total of 67 rounds lower than 68 being recorded over the first two days.  The noise of the adjacent International Airport has, we can assume, proven manageable…

- A year ago, the then-Nissan Open was missing Tiger Woods from its field, yet with eight of the world’s top 10 present and Phil Mickleson on the lead, Tiger’s absence was largely forgotten on what amounted to a very exciting weekend of golf.  With Mickelson recording nine birdies en route to a superb second-round 64 at the now-Northern Trust Open, the table is once again set for a memorable finish in Los Angeles – an encouraging sign to tournament directors of Tiger-free events everywhere.  But there’s one important caveat: None of those events have Riviera, which is in itself is a blue-chip drawing card, both at the gate and on television…

- General Question: If you can reach monster par 4s with 3 iron, 6 iron (as Mickelson did today at Riviera’s 463-yard 2nd), why, on particularly narrow or dangerous ones, would you even consider taking a wood out of the bag?

- Reader Seb’s comment yesterday that Angel Cabrera had, in fact, played in America already in 2008 (at the Mercedes Championship) is entirely correct.  I had intended to use the phrase “full-field event” – sort of like Ernie Els had intended to birdie the final hole in Dubai, or Phil Mickelson had intended not to card an 11 last week…

Friday’s Round of the Day

Several nominees today.  Phil Mickelson’s precision 64 at Riviera (good enough for a two-shot Northern Trust Open lead) is no-brainer good.  Chilean Felipe Aguilar’s 62 at the Indonesia Open (which reportedly might have been several shots lower) is initially eye-popping...until we notice the multiple 63s and 64s nipping at his heels.  Thus we must go with Annika Sorenstam’s 67 in the SBS Open – a round which may not better Mickelson’s for skill (though birdies at five of the last seven holes is an attention-getter) but could prove itself hugely important in Annika’s drive to regain world number one status.

- Overnight UPDATE: A two-time Challenge Tour winner with precious little success on the E Tour under his belt, 23-year-old Felipe Aguilar did not melt away in Indonesia following his Friday 62, instead posting a solid three-under-par 67 to hold a two-stroke lead over India's Jeev Milkha Singh (65) and China's Liang Wen-Chong (64).  South African James Kamte, a winner three weeks ago at his home tour's Dimension Data Pro-Am, lies 4th after a third-round 68.