Saturday, April 10, 2004
The New York Times > Sports > Golf > Mickelson's First Major Within Reach at Augusta
By CLIFTON BROWN
AUGUSTA, Ga., April 10 - The winner of the 68th Masters has yet to be determined, but the role of sentimental favorite already has.
It belongs to Phil Mickelson, a player who has been tantalized by close calls, the equivalent of the actor who sits in the audience, always watching someone else accept the Oscar. Eight times Mickelson has finished among the top three at a major, but he has never captured one of golf's ultimate prizes. With 22 career victories, he has long been recognized as one of the world's best. But without a major championship, his career resume lacks the key ingredient to silence his critics.
How Mickelson handles his latest opportunity will add to the intrigue of the final round at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday. Mickelson will enter it tied for the lead at six-under-par 210 after a 69 on Saturday.
Chris DiMarco also has a share of the lead, after a 68. It is the first time that Mickelson has held or shared the lead heading into the final round of a major.
Paul Casey, a 26-year-old Masters rookie from England, was two strokes back at four under after a 68, and three players were tied at three under: Ernie Els (71), Bernhard Langer (69) and K.J. Choi (72).
Another green jacket is waiting for someone, and at age 33, Mickelson hoped his wait would finally end.
"It's something that I've been trying to do for some time, and it's been a tough hurdle for me," he said. "For a number of reasons, it has been much more difficult for me to win major championships than regular Tour events. I do know this. If I'm fortunate enough to win that green jacket, you'll be seeing my dumb mug here every year, for the rest of my life."
While Mickelson shot himself into the lead, others shot themselves out of contention.
Tiger Woods, with a third-round 75, was nine strokes behind, with little chance to win. Justin Rose, the 23-year-old Englishman who started the third round with a two-stroke lead, finally succumbed to the pressure. His game fell apart with an 81. He made six bogeys on the front nine, and felt the loneliness of a player struggling at one of golf's grandest arenas.
"I am still a bit shellshocked, to be honest," said Rose, who finished nine strokes behind the co-leaders. "Whether you believe me or not, I felt in a great frame of mind going out there. I hit the ball beautifully on the range. I just got off to a bad, bad start, and every little minor mistake got punished. That's obviously what Augusta is all about. Today it bit back in a large way."
Others who felt that bite included Davis Love III, who fell to even par after a 74, and JosÀe Maria Olazabal, who fell to three over after a 79.
Those scores only amplified how well Mickelson and DiMarco played. Mickelson has played his last 32 holes without a bogey, and DiMarco had a bogey-free round.
Mickelson had nothing but pars on his final 11 holes, and he made a superb save at No. 18, making a 10-footer after pulling his approach shot right of the green.
This is a different Mickelson, with a swing that is more dependable after intense off-season work with the swing coach Rick Smith. Mickelson no longer needs heroics to remain in contention, and he is enjoying the less stressful existence.
"I'm much more at ease than I have been in the past," said Mickelson, who hit 10 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens in regulation. "I feel very confident that I'm able to drive the ball in play, and that I'm able to hit my irons the proper distance. It's just a much easier game keeping it in play. I wish somebody would have told me this earlier."
After starting the day three strokes behind Rose, Mickelson took the outright lead for the first time with his birdie at the par-5 No. 8, hitting a beautiful chip shot to four feet.
DiMarco, who started four strokes behind Rose, had a blistering front nine, with birdies on Nos. 2, 4 and 8 to pull a stroke behind Mickelson.
At the par-4 No. 14, DiMarco pulled even with another birdie, hitting an 8-iron from 156 yards to three feet behind the hole, then making the putt.
By CLIFTON BROWN
AUGUSTA, Ga., April 10 - The winner of the 68th Masters has yet to be determined, but the role of sentimental favorite already has.
It belongs to Phil Mickelson, a player who has been tantalized by close calls, the equivalent of the actor who sits in the audience, always watching someone else accept the Oscar. Eight times Mickelson has finished among the top three at a major, but he has never captured one of golf's ultimate prizes. With 22 career victories, he has long been recognized as one of the world's best. But without a major championship, his career resume lacks the key ingredient to silence his critics.
How Mickelson handles his latest opportunity will add to the intrigue of the final round at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday. Mickelson will enter it tied for the lead at six-under-par 210 after a 69 on Saturday.
Chris DiMarco also has a share of the lead, after a 68. It is the first time that Mickelson has held or shared the lead heading into the final round of a major.
Paul Casey, a 26-year-old Masters rookie from England, was two strokes back at four under after a 68, and three players were tied at three under: Ernie Els (71), Bernhard Langer (69) and K.J. Choi (72).
Another green jacket is waiting for someone, and at age 33, Mickelson hoped his wait would finally end.
"It's something that I've been trying to do for some time, and it's been a tough hurdle for me," he said. "For a number of reasons, it has been much more difficult for me to win major championships than regular Tour events. I do know this. If I'm fortunate enough to win that green jacket, you'll be seeing my dumb mug here every year, for the rest of my life."
While Mickelson shot himself into the lead, others shot themselves out of contention.
Tiger Woods, with a third-round 75, was nine strokes behind, with little chance to win. Justin Rose, the 23-year-old Englishman who started the third round with a two-stroke lead, finally succumbed to the pressure. His game fell apart with an 81. He made six bogeys on the front nine, and felt the loneliness of a player struggling at one of golf's grandest arenas.
"I am still a bit shellshocked, to be honest," said Rose, who finished nine strokes behind the co-leaders. "Whether you believe me or not, I felt in a great frame of mind going out there. I hit the ball beautifully on the range. I just got off to a bad, bad start, and every little minor mistake got punished. That's obviously what Augusta is all about. Today it bit back in a large way."
Others who felt that bite included Davis Love III, who fell to even par after a 74, and JosÀe Maria Olazabal, who fell to three over after a 79.
Those scores only amplified how well Mickelson and DiMarco played. Mickelson has played his last 32 holes without a bogey, and DiMarco had a bogey-free round.
Mickelson had nothing but pars on his final 11 holes, and he made a superb save at No. 18, making a 10-footer after pulling his approach shot right of the green.
This is a different Mickelson, with a swing that is more dependable after intense off-season work with the swing coach Rick Smith. Mickelson no longer needs heroics to remain in contention, and he is enjoying the less stressful existence.
"I'm much more at ease than I have been in the past," said Mickelson, who hit 10 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens in regulation. "I feel very confident that I'm able to drive the ball in play, and that I'm able to hit my irons the proper distance. It's just a much easier game keeping it in play. I wish somebody would have told me this earlier."
After starting the day three strokes behind Rose, Mickelson took the outright lead for the first time with his birdie at the par-5 No. 8, hitting a beautiful chip shot to four feet.
DiMarco, who started four strokes behind Rose, had a blistering front nine, with birdies on Nos. 2, 4 and 8 to pull a stroke behind Mickelson.
At the par-4 No. 14, DiMarco pulled even with another birdie, hitting an 8-iron from 156 yards to three feet behind the hole, then making the putt.
