Britain’s Lee Westwood maintained ice-cool composure while fending off an electrifying back-nine charge by Phil Mickelson to take a one-shot lead after Saturday’s third round of the US Masters.
While Tiger Woods clawed his way back into contention after losing his cool early on, Westwood fired a four-under-par 68 in glorious spring sunshine at Augusta National to post a 12-under total of 204.
Mickelson, a two-time Masters champion, carded a 67 to lie second with world No. 1 Woods and his playing partner K.J. Choi of South Korea a further stroke back at eight under after carding matching 70s.
PHOTO: AFP
Calm conditions, receptive greens and several accessible pins resulted in a glut of aggressive shot-making as the majestic Georgian pines at Augusta resonated with loud roars for birdies and eagles.
“It was probably one of those great days in golf at a major championship,” Westwood told reporters after a well-crafted round featuring five birdies and a lone bogey at the 12th.
In yesterday’s final round, Westwood had to execute in the company of Mickelson, who thrilled the crowds on Saturday by covering 13, 14 and 15 with a stunning eagle-eagle-birdie run.
“I haven’t played this way in a long time, and I feel great about my game,” said the American, who briefly led by one before slipping back with a three-putt bogey at the 17th.
Woods, playing his first tournament in nearly five months after his double life was exposed at the end of last year, was delighted to be in contention for a 15th major title.
Mickelson, Masters champion in 2004 and 2006, treated the Augusta galleries to one of the most spectacular exhibitions of golf seen at the year’s opening major.
He became only the third player to record successive eagles when he holed out from 141 yards at the par-four 14th, his ball pitching six feet beyond the hole before rolling back down the slope into the cup.
Mickelson, who had knocked in a six-footer to eagle the par-five 13th, raised his arms skywards in disbelief as the crowd roared its approval.
“I can’t believe that ball disappeared and went in,” Mickelson said. “It was sure fun, especially after eagling 13, and that walk up was awesome.”
Dan Pohl, in the third round of the 1982 Masters, and Dustin Johnson, in the fourth round last year, had previously posted back-to-back eagles at Augusta.
Mickelson came agonizingly close to a third successive eagle at the par-five 15th, his wedge approach there ending up six inches from the cup to give him a tap-in for birdie.
Woods made a flying start with long-range birdie putts at the first and third, closing to within a stroke of the lead before losing both momentum and his temper.
He bogeyed the fourth, sixth and seventh, his mounting frustration showing with a scathing “Tiger, you suck” after he made a poor swing on the sixth tee.
Watched for the third day in a row by his mother Kultida who wore a floppy white sun hat, Woods continued his up-and-down journey before ending the day with a mix of seven birdies and five bogeys.
He remains in the title hunt, however, after coming into this week with a major question mark hanging over his emotional state.
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