LA QUINTA, California, 25 January 2004 — Phil Mickelson continued his strong start to the season in the third round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on Friday, shooting an eight-under-par 64 to take a two-stroke lead.
Playing in his first tournament of the 2004 PGA Tour, the world number 16 stands on 21-under-par 195 in the 90-hole event held over four courses.
Last year’s runner-up, Jay Haas (64) and Ben Crane (65) are joint second at 19-under 197. Twelve-time PGA Tour winner Paul Azinger (66) and Todd Fischer, who shot a nine-under 63, are at 18-under-par, three shots off the lead.
Kenny Perry (69), Skip Kendall (68), Kirk Triplett (68) and Australian Geoff Ogilvy (63) are in a tie for sixth place at 17-under-par. Robert Gamez had the low round of the tournament, shooting a 12-under-par 60, which included a nine-under-par 27 on his inward nine.
Defending champion Mike Weir shot a four-under-par 68 and is currently tied for 41st at 11-under-par, 10 shots behind Mickelson. Winner of this event in 2002, Mickelson picked up from where he left on in Thursday’s second round, putting together nine birdies against a lone bogey — on the par-five 18th when his second shot found water.
The dropped shot was just his second in 54 holes and over the last 36 holes he has amassed 19 birdies.
Winless since the Canon Greater Hartford Open over 18 months ago, the Californian left-hander is in a position he has not been of late — in the lead.
Horne Storms Into Clubhouse Lead in South Africa
In Johannesburg, South Africa’s Keith Horne shot a blistering third round 63 to move into the clubhouse lead of the Dunhill Championship on 13-under par 203 yesterday.
The little-known journeyman had seven birdies and an eagle on his card during a bogey-free round at the par-72 Houghton Golf Club. Second-round leader Raphael Jacquelin from France, who was also at 13-under, had yet to start his round on a day when scores were low.
In perfect warm and dry conditions the scoreboard was full of red numbers as players made birdies and eagles almost at will.
Trevor Immelman, winner of the South African Open at Erinvale last week, went out in six-under par 30 with six birdies on his card to move to 11-under for the tournament.
Sweden’s Joachim Backstrom also came out flying with an eagle on the par-four first after driving the green on his way to an outward nine of 29 moving him to 11-under.
Horne started the day with three consecutive birdies and added an eagle at the par-five fifth. His fourth birdie came on the par-four seventh which he followed with four straight pars.
