The Associated Press

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Kenny Perry is in his prime two decades after making his tour debut.

Perry shot a 6-under 66 Thursday to go to 14 under and take the second-round lead in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Phil Mickelson, playing his first tournament of the year after a disappointing 2003 season, had another good round, a 63 that left him one shot behind Perry.

Mickelson was the 2002 Hope champion, and Perry took the title in 1995 in the 90-hole event.

Kirk Triplett had a 65 and Skip Kendall a 68 and were tied with Mickelson at 13-under 131.

Perry, 43, is coming off his best year, with three victories, 11 finishes in the top 10, and $4.4 million to rank sixth on the earnings list.

"I've just gotten better," he said.

British Open

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - The British Open is returning to Carnoustie in 2007.

The Open was last played on the Scottish links course in 1999.

It is and is remembered as the championship in which Frenchman Jean Van Der Velde blew a three-stroke lead on the 72nd hole and then lost a three-way playoff to Scotsman Paul Lawrie. Before 1999, the Open was last played at Carnoustie in 1975.

Dunhill Championship

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - Denmark's Anders Hansen shot a 7-under-par 65 Thursday and shared the first-round lead with Scotland's Alan McLean and Germany's Marcel Siem.