Sat Apr 12 20:43:15 2008

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Masters Third Round News & Notes

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Augusta, GA (Sports Network) - In the pre-2004 Masters world of Phil Mickelson, silly mistakes cost him major championship glory.

It was daring decisions and missed short putts that doomed Mickelson until that fateful back nine four years ago. That opened the flood gates for Mickelson, who carried the dreaded moniker, "Best Player to Never Win a Major."

He captured the PGA Championship the following year and re-donned the green jacket in 2006. Mickelson failed to take any majors last year, but had the game in decent shape for Augusta this year.

The plan went well through two rounds. Mickelson was five-under par and three behind Trevor Immelman, a South African with no majors and just one PGA Tour victory in 2006.

Then Saturday happened. It was vintage old Phil.

A birdie at the second seemed to show Mickelson was on the verge of getting to the top of the leaderboard. He went long at six en route to a bogey. Mickelson's third at the par-five eighth hit the stick and rolled back to 25 feet. Three putts later and Mickelson picks up a bogey and is treading water.

He bogeyed the 10th and 12th, but came back with birdies at 13 and 14. Mickelson missed a short birdie try at 15 and came apart at the par-three 16th.

Mickelson missed the green, then knocked his second 45 feet past the cup. His par putt came up eight feet short and Mickelson missed that putt for bogey. All totaled, Mickelson made a double-bogey, fell to two-under and was eight behind Trevor Immelman at the time.

"It was a disappointing day, obviously. I didn't play very well, and it was a day where there were some low scores out there," said Mickelson. "I don't know where it really came from because I felt like I was hitting the ball well, I was hitting some good putts.

"I don't know what happened."

CASEY AT THE TOP

For a brief period on Saturday, Paul Casey shared the lead at the Masters. He played beautifully on the front nine to the tune of four birdies and 32. His 10-footer at the ninth vaulted him into a tie for first.

A bogey at 11 dropped him down the board, but a birdie at 13 brought him back into the lead. Casey went one-over the rest of the way, but may have the best opportunity to thwart Immelman's rise to victory.

"Trevor's setting the number out there," said Casey. "I know the wind's gonna get up. I try to move it around and control the ball. If Trevor continues to play the golf he's playing right now, it'll be difficult."

Casey is certainly no slouch. He is ranked 34th in the world and contended for Order of Merit titles on the European Tour. Casey made the cut in all four majors last year and owns two top-10s in three previous starts at the Masters.

So why not Casey to become the first Englishman since Nick Faldo in 1996 to slip on the green jacket?

"Probably the best golf I've played around Augusta National and I feel very comfortable," said Casey. "I feel great. I love being here. It's as simple as that."

SOUTH AFRICAN PRIDE

If Trevor Immelman can make to the Butler Cabin on Sunday evening, he will be the second South African to win the Masters. Gary Player won the Masters three times.

Ernie Els won three majors, but has never won the Masters.

Retief Goosen won two U.S. Opens, but never won the Masters.

Tim Clark was a runner-up in 2006.

Rory Sabbatini was a runner-up in 2007.

But Player is the only South African to win this major championship. Maybe it will Trevor Immelman who changes the fortunes of South Africa come Sunday evening.

"It's very exciting. Obviously Gary has won this tournament three times, and Ernie and Goose have come close so many times," said Immelman. "I count myself fortunate to be in this position, and I'm just going to go and give it my best shot tomorrow."

* There was a 40-minute weather delay on Saturday due to rain and thunderstorms. Play finished on Saturday so no additional time will be needed for round three on Sunday.

* Sunday's forecast calls for considerably more wind, with possible gusts up to 20 miles per hour. Temperatures are also expected to dip.

* The winner of the Masters has come from the final pairing on Sunday in 16 of the last 17. The only exception was last year when Zach Johnson came from behind to win.

* Tiger Woods has never come from behind to win any of his 13 major championships.

* The hardest hole of the third round was the par-four 11th with an average of 4.4667. For the week, the most difficult hole has been 11 with a scoring average of 4.3060.

* The easiest hole on Saturday was the par-five second with an average of 4.6000. The least difficult hole of the tournament has been the par-five 15th. It has played to an average of 4.7759.