Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Mickelson makes major move
Five-time champ at Pebble Beach trails leader by one stroke
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Phil Mickelson and his sublime short game delivered more entertainment than all the athletes and celebrities for the Saturday show at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Mickelson made the impossible look easy from a bunker behind the par-3 seventh green at Pebble Beach. He holed out from a bunker for birdie on the 13th and chipped in from 90 feet for birdie on the next hole.
When he rapped in one last birdie, Mickelson had a 5-under-par 67 and trailed Nick Taylor of Canada by one shot going into the final round. Mickelson will be going for a record sixth title at Pebble Beach and his first PGA Tour victory since he won this tournament last year.
Taylor had a cold and relatively quiet day, away from all the hits and giggles around the celebrity rotation at Pebble. He teed off at tough Spyglass Hill with a beanie and hand warmers because of heavy marine layer, warmed up as the sun broke through and made a 25-foot eagle putt late in his round for a 69.
Taylor was at 17-under 198 as he goes for his second PGA Tour victory and first since he won the Sanderson Farms Championship in his fourth start as a tour rookie.
Mickelson hit a flop shot over the bunker on the par-5 18th — how did that one not go in? — to pull within one shot. They will be in the final group, along with their amateur partners. Mickelson has former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young, while Taylor has Golf Digest editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde.
Taylor and Mickelson never have played together.
“It’s going to be a new experience for that reason, if I am playing with him,” Taylor said. “Obviously, if he makes a putt or great shot, the crowd’s going to go wild. I’ve just got
to do my own thing, try to block all that out.”
Jason Day posted a 70 at Spyglass Hill and was three shots behind at 14-under 201.
For others, it was a wasted opportunity.
Pebble Beach had more wind than earlier in the week but still was gentle enough that low scores were available. Dustin Johnson, a twotime winner at Pebble, was in striking range and managed only a 72, leaving him eight shots back. Patrick Cantlay, at No. 8 in the world, played the final six holes in 2 over for a 72 and was nine shots back.
Plenty is at stake for the leading three players.
Mickelson said last week he would not accept a special exemption for the U.S. Open if he needed one. A victory at Pebble — the 45th of his career — would go a long way toward solving that.
Taylor can validate his first win since his rookie season, an opposite-field event at the time. The Canadian never has been to the Masters and has played in only four majors, two as an amateur.
Day is a former No. 1 who spent most of last year injured and frustrated. He has gone nearly two years since his last win and was in danger of falling out of the top 50 if he didn’t starting getting better results.
■ LPGA: At Barwon Heads, Australia, Ayean Cho shot 2-under 70 for a 12-under 205 total and a one-stroke lead entering the ISPS Handa Vic Open’s final round. Second-round leader Madelene Sagstrom (74) was alone in second, with Alena Sharp (70) another shot back. UNLV product Dana Finkelstein (72) was tied for 11th at 5-under 212.