AUGUSTA, Georgia, 12 April 2004 — Phil Mickelson put himself on track for a long-awaited major breakthrough at the US Masters on Saturday after overnight pacesetter Justin Rose and Tiger Woods fell back in testing conditions at Augusta. Left-hander Mickelson, who has finished third in his last three Masters starts, fired a three-under-par 69 in the third round, tying fellow American Chris DiMarco for the lead at six-under 210.
DiMarco, who caught Mickelson with a birdie three at the 14th where he struck an eight-iron approach to within a foot of the flag, carded a 68 in bright sunshine.
Widely regarded as the best modern-day player yet to win a major, Mickelson had a chance to snatch the outright lead at the par-four 17th.
However, his birdie putt from eight feet slid past the hole as he started to pump his fist in celebration. The former world No. 2 two then overshot the green with his approach at the last and had to hole a tricky eight-foot putt to save par.
“A par putt can give you much more momentum than a birdie putt, especially around here where you just try to make par so many times,” the 33-year-old Mickelson told reporters.
“Heading into the final round, I’m much more at ease than I’ve been in the past when I’ve been anxious, wondering how it’s going to go on the range, is the swing going to be there? I don’t feel that anxiety. I haven’t felt it all year. “I’ve had some good final rounds in the past and fortunately I’ve been able to learn from those and play pretty well on Sunday,” added the Californian.
Mickelson, chasing his first major title in his 47th start, set the tone by saving par at the first with a deft up-and-down from the left of the green and sinking a 25-foot birdie putt at the par-four third.
Exuding confidence in front of hugely supportive crowds, he then sank short birdie putts on seven and eight before parring the final 10 holes. DiMarco, a triple winner on the PGA Tour, was looking forward yesterday: “It’s going to be fun.
“Phil’s going to have a lot of pressure on him because he’s got to try to get that monkey off his back,” he added, referring to Mickelson’s record of 17 top-10 finishes in majors without a victory.
Britain’s Paul Casey, scompeting at Augusta for the first time, returned a four-under 68 for third place at four-under 212, with European Ryder Cup captain and twice champion Bernhard Langer a further shot back in a tie for fourth after a 69.
Level with German Langer were triple major winner Ernie Els of South Africa, who had a 71, and South Korea’s KJ Choi (72).
World No. 1 Woods struggled in the fast-running conditions, carding a three-over 75 after hauling his way back into contention with a second-round 69.
Bidding for a third Masters title in four years, he dropped a shot at the first after finding a fairway bunker off the tee before hitting back with a birdie four at the 575-yard second.
However, he bogeyed the par-three sixth, where he overhit the green, and another bogey followed at the ninth as he slipped back to two-over. With the wind swirling through the Georgian pines on the back nine, the eight-time major champion double bogeyed the par-five 13th and also dropped a stroke at the par-four 14th before replying with birdies at 15 and 17.
Britain’s Rose, who had preserved his two-shot cushion with a one-under-par 71 in Friday’s second round, tumbled down the leaderboard with a nine-over 81.
The 23-year-old Englishman made six bogeys in a front nine of 42 as Augusta’s slick greens were quickened by the blazing sun, and then dropped three more shots after the turn to finish at three-over 219.
