Phil Mickelson hits out of a sand trap on the third hole during the second round of the Bridgestone Invitational golf tournament at Firestone Country Club, Friday in Akron, Ohio.

AKRON, Ohio — Phil Mickelson is closing in on No. 1.

The first step is to make up a one-shot deficit against Retief Goosen, the 36-hole leader Friday at the Bridgestone Invitational. Looking more inevitable is Mickelson finally supplanting Tiger Woods atop the world ranking.

Goosen turned bogey into birdie by chipping in from 25 yards off the green at No. 4, sending him on his way to a 4-under 66 that gave him a one-shot lead over Mickelson and Justin Leonard (66) going into the weekend at Firestone.

Even as Goosen led another assault on par in soft conditions, Woods continued to look as ordinary as ever. The seven-time champion at Firestone hit only three fairways and stumbled to a 2-over 72 — the first time he has ever had consecutive rounds over par at this tournament — that put him 13 shots out of the lead, and five players removed from last place.

Woods had no intention of speaking to reporters, instead walking to his car and driving away.

He has been No. 1 in the world since the week before the 2005 U.S. Open, but would lose his top ranking if Mickelson were to finish in fourth place alone and Woods — who is tied for 72nd — finishes out of the top 44.

“Obviously, it would be cool,” Mickelson said. “It would be something I would love to do, being regarded as No. 1 according to the ranking. And I know that I’ve got a great opportunity this week. I know that I’m playing well, and this is my best opportunity.”

But he still has 36 holes in front of him on a course that has rewarded good shots with low scores.

Despite a bogey on the final hole, Goosen was at 7-under 133 as he tries to win his first World Golf Championship. It doesn’t figure to be easy, not so much because of Firestone, rather the number of players chasing him.

Sixteen players were separated by four shots going into the weekend.

That includes Bubba Watson (71) in the group at 5-under 135, Adam Scott (70), Lucas Glover (66) and Paul Casey (68) at 136, and Rory McIlroy (69) and Dustin Johnson (65) in the group at 137.

“Every part of your game needs to be good here, driving especially,” Goosen said. “You need to hit it on the fairway, otherwise you’re struggling.”

As Woods and Mickelson showed, that depends.

Woods, who started on the back nine, didn’t hit a fairway until the 17th hole, and it got so bad on the 14th hole that his drive landed in a bunker on the 13th hole. He still scrambled for par and was even on the front nine, but too many errant shots caught up with him.

Mickelson wasn’t much better — he hit only six fairways — but he made the most of his chances.

“I didn’t play great today. I was a little off,” Mickelson said. “I hit some bad shots, and I was able to salvage a lot of pars today.”

Also on Friday:

Cejka takes one-shot lead on PGA

VERONA, N.Y. — Alex Cejka shot a 4-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead in the Turning Stone Resort Championship. Chris Tidland and first-round co-leader Rory Sabbatini were tied for second at 9 under after the second round at the 7,482-yard Atunyote Golf Club. Tidland posted a 69 and Sabbatini had a 70.

Early champions lead goes to Armour

BLAINE, Minn. — Tommy Armour III shot a 9-under 63 and has a one-shot lead over Mark Calcavecchia and David Frost after one round of the 3M Championship. John Cook and Jeff Sluman are two strokes back. Hal Sutton, who eagled the final hole, was among those shooting 66. Joining him were Tom Jenkins, Nick Price and David Peoples.

Westwood withdraws from PGA

AKRON, Ohio — Just as he was closing in on No. 1 in the world and possibly his first major, Lee Westwood of England withdrew Friday from the PGA Championship with an injury that even puts the Ryder Cup in doubt.

Westwood, a runner-up at the Masters and the British Open this year, suffered a calf injury at the French Open the first week in July. It has caused problems with swelling in his right ankle, and it reached a breaking point Friday.

“I will be out for as long as it takes to get better,” Westwood said in a statement. “I am just hoping that it will be in time for me to play in the Ryder Cup.”

Westwood, No. 3 in the world, had a chance to go to No. 1 in the ranking with a victory this week at the Bridgestone Invitational. He had his ankle taped for the second round and sputtered around to a 76.

— The Associated Press