( CNN ) -- The good news for Tiger Woods at the Honda Classic was that his second round was better than the first . But Woods still has a long way to go if he is to win his first golf tournament of 2014 . While Woods struggled to find his best form , Rory McIlroy had another fine day and was the clubhouse leader late in the second round at 11-under-par 129 , 11 shots better than Woods . Woods carded a 1-over 71 on Thursday in Palm Beach Gardens and improved by two shots Friday . He mixed three birdies with two bogeys , narrowly missing a birdie at the last on a shortish putt . He got himself out of trouble at the 12th to save par following a poor tee shot and then executed a sumptuous chip for a birdie at the 13th . The world No . 1 was expected to make the cut -- after missing a 54-hole cut at the Farmers Insurance Open in January . Phil Mickelson , though , was n't . 'Lefty ' was at 1-over after a 71 Friday , undone by a double bogey at the 16th . `` No , I wo n't make the cut , '' Mickelson , ranked fifth , told reporters . `` I had a tough time making birdies . My distance control was off . It just was n't sharp . '' Henrik Stenson , the hottest player on the circuit at the end of 2013 , surely wo n't be around on the weekend since he tallied a 9-over through two rounds . The Swede 's round included a double bogey and six bogeys . It was only last year that McIlroy walked off the course in the second round , blaming a toothache . He later apologized but the episode was all part of a poor 2013 . This week in Florida , McIlroy is looking more like the golfer who won the event in 2012 on his way to the No . 1 ranking . `` It 's a different end of the spectrum I guess , '' McIlroy told the PGA Tour 's website . `` I was n't quite comfortable with my golf swing . I was still tinkering with equipment . I just was n't feeling in control of what I needed to be in control of . `` This year is obviously a lot different . '' McIlroy could n't match his sizzling 63 on Thursday but he still was n't shabby . After hitting bogeys in two of his first three holes , McIlroy did n't drop another shot and struck six birdies for a 66 . The tough course was clearly taking its toll , as McIlroy was the lone member of the top eight in the world rankings to be inside the top 20 at the Honda Classic nearing the end of play Friday .
Tiger Woods has a better day at the Phoenix Classic on Sunday in Phoenix . Woods shot a 1-under 65 but still trailed clubhouse leader Rory McIlroy by 11 shots . Former champion McIlroy shot a 66 a day after registering a 63 in Palm Beach Gardens . Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson are among those expected to miss the cut .