KIDWCKED
04-10-2010, 11:47 PM
c/p
ESPN.com news services
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Lee Westwood appeared to be pulling away, the only player on the Masters leaderboard heading in the right direction Saturday.
Then, just like that, Phil Mickelson turned Moving Day upside down.
Lefty became only the third player in Augusta National history to make back-to-back eagles -- and came within 6 inches of pulling off another one -- briefly stealing the lead from Westwood with one of the most remarkable three-hole stretches this ol' place has ever seen.
The Masters Leaderboard
1. Westwood (-12)
2. Mickelson (-11)
T-3. Woods (-8)
T-3. Choi (-8)
5. Couples (-7)
• Complete scores
Mickelson had an 11-under 205 through 54 holes, one-stroke behind Westwood who finished at 12 under.
They were roaring on the back nine as loud as ever -- and it wasn't even Sunday.
"You don't plan on balls going into the hole like at 14," Mickelson said. "I haven't played this well in a long time. I feel my game is as good as it's been. I love this tournament more than any other. I love being in contention on Sunday."
Mickelson wiped out a five-shot deficit to make himself a prime contender for a third green jacket. It started at the par-5 13th, where he reached the green in two shots, then rolled in an 8-foot putt for eagle.
The next hole was really extraordinary. From 139 yards away in the middle of the fairway, he struck a 9-iron that plopped down left of the flag and spun back into the cup for a 2. He joined Dan Pohl (1982) and Dustin Johnson (2009) as the only players to make consecutive eagles at the Masters.
How about three in a row? Mickelson sure gave it a run, knocking a wedge over the pond at the par-5 15th, the ball nuzzling the hole while the patrons tried to will it home with their cheers.
Mickelson was beaming as he walked up to the green for the tap-in birdie.
Tiger Woods was hurt by a shaky putter and some loose shots off the tee.
"Tiger, you suck," he said to himself at one point -- the sort of outburst he had vowed to tone down in his return to the game after a five-month layoff due to a sex scandal.
Woods recovered from a stretch of four bogeys in seven holes by hitting three straight birdies on Nos. 13, 14 and 15. Woods finished with a birdie on No. 18 to tie K.J. Choi at 8 under, four shots behind the leader.
"I was fighting it all day," Woods said. "I really struggled with the pace of the greens. I was fighting my swing. It was a tough day.
"I just wanted to put myself in contention, and I did that. If I have a good round tomorrow, you never know."
First-round leader Fred Couples started with two straight birdies and almost had three; an 8-footer for birdie at No. 3 slid by the cup. He then wasted a birdie on No. 8 by bogeying No. 9. A birdie on No. 14 and an eagle on No. 15 pushed him up the leaderboard to fifth place at seven under.
"I hit the ball extremely well today -- 68 is a very good score," said Couples, who deals with chronic back problems by wearing tennis shoes and no socks. "I have a shot tomorrow if I can shoot a crazy score. We'll see what happens."
Ian Poulter started the day tied with Westwood tied for the 36-hole lead but went the wrong way. He was 2 over through 17 holes, going from the top spot to 6 under in a tie with Ricky Barnes (72) and Hunter Mahan (68).
"There's a long way to go," Woods said. "It's only Saturday."
ESPN.com news services
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Lee Westwood appeared to be pulling away, the only player on the Masters leaderboard heading in the right direction Saturday.
Then, just like that, Phil Mickelson turned Moving Day upside down.
Lefty became only the third player in Augusta National history to make back-to-back eagles -- and came within 6 inches of pulling off another one -- briefly stealing the lead from Westwood with one of the most remarkable three-hole stretches this ol' place has ever seen.
The Masters Leaderboard
1. Westwood (-12)
2. Mickelson (-11)
T-3. Woods (-8)
T-3. Choi (-8)
5. Couples (-7)
• Complete scores
Mickelson had an 11-under 205 through 54 holes, one-stroke behind Westwood who finished at 12 under.
They were roaring on the back nine as loud as ever -- and it wasn't even Sunday.
"You don't plan on balls going into the hole like at 14," Mickelson said. "I haven't played this well in a long time. I feel my game is as good as it's been. I love this tournament more than any other. I love being in contention on Sunday."
Mickelson wiped out a five-shot deficit to make himself a prime contender for a third green jacket. It started at the par-5 13th, where he reached the green in two shots, then rolled in an 8-foot putt for eagle.
The next hole was really extraordinary. From 139 yards away in the middle of the fairway, he struck a 9-iron that plopped down left of the flag and spun back into the cup for a 2. He joined Dan Pohl (1982) and Dustin Johnson (2009) as the only players to make consecutive eagles at the Masters.
How about three in a row? Mickelson sure gave it a run, knocking a wedge over the pond at the par-5 15th, the ball nuzzling the hole while the patrons tried to will it home with their cheers.
Mickelson was beaming as he walked up to the green for the tap-in birdie.
Tiger Woods was hurt by a shaky putter and some loose shots off the tee.
"Tiger, you suck," he said to himself at one point -- the sort of outburst he had vowed to tone down in his return to the game after a five-month layoff due to a sex scandal.
Woods recovered from a stretch of four bogeys in seven holes by hitting three straight birdies on Nos. 13, 14 and 15. Woods finished with a birdie on No. 18 to tie K.J. Choi at 8 under, four shots behind the leader.
"I was fighting it all day," Woods said. "I really struggled with the pace of the greens. I was fighting my swing. It was a tough day.
"I just wanted to put myself in contention, and I did that. If I have a good round tomorrow, you never know."
First-round leader Fred Couples started with two straight birdies and almost had three; an 8-footer for birdie at No. 3 slid by the cup. He then wasted a birdie on No. 8 by bogeying No. 9. A birdie on No. 14 and an eagle on No. 15 pushed him up the leaderboard to fifth place at seven under.
"I hit the ball extremely well today -- 68 is a very good score," said Couples, who deals with chronic back problems by wearing tennis shoes and no socks. "I have a shot tomorrow if I can shoot a crazy score. We'll see what happens."
Ian Poulter started the day tied with Westwood tied for the 36-hole lead but went the wrong way. He was 2 over through 17 holes, going from the top spot to 6 under in a tie with Ricky Barnes (72) and Hunter Mahan (68).
"There's a long way to go," Woods said. "It's only Saturday."