Lefty at 50 — leading by one
Phil Mickelson looks to make more history on PGA’s final day,
At one point Saturday, Phil Mickelson had a putt to go six up on the field at the PGA Championship.
But as is the case with Mickelson — he of the roller-coaster career that has produced so many memorable moments, both good and bad — it was never going to be that easy.
Still, the 50-year-old Mickelson ended the day at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina at 7 under par. After a 2-under 70, Mickelson, the oldest 54-hole leader or coleader in PGA Championship history, had a one-shot lead over Brooks Koepka.
Mickelson, the 2005 PGA Champion, went out in 4-under and was cruising through 10 holes. But he bogeyed No. 12 and made double bogey on No. 13 after driving it into the water. He blew his approach on the closing 18th well left of his intended target, but in classic Mickelson fashion hit a skyhigh flop to within a foot and saved par.
“I felt I had a very clear picture on every shot, and I’ve been swinging the club well, and so I was executing. I just need to keep that picture a few more times,” said Mickelson. “So even though it slipped a little bit today and I didn’t stay as focused and as sharp on a few swings, it’s significantly better than it’s been for a long time.”
The crowds all day were firmly pro-Mickelson, as they have been most of his career. The PGA of America has allowed approximately 10,000 fans per day on site.
Mickelson has played in 29 PGA Championships and made the cut 26 times. The win in 2005 was one of 14 top-25 finishes in his career, and he was the talk of the tournament Saturday as he looks to add another major championship trophy to his collection.
If Mickelson does win on Sunday, he would become the oldest major champion in golf history. Julius Boros won the PGA Championship in 1968 at the age of 48.
“He’s obviously a great champion, but to (win) at age 50 would be one of the more unbelievable things to happen in the game of golf, maybe ever,” 2011 PGA champion Keegan Bradley told SiriusXM radio.
While Mickelson had the lead, an argument could be made that Brooks Koepka is actually the favourite going into Sunday.
Although Koepka is one shot back and not 100 per cent healthy (he had a knee procedure prior to the Masters), he still knows he has a great chance for another major title — and that’s why he always tends to show up on the leaderboard of the biggest events. Koepka has won two of the last three PGA Championships.
“It just feels good, feels normal,” Koepka said of his position. “It’s what you’re supposed to do, what you practise for. I’m right where I want to be, and we’ll see how tomorrow goes. Just be within three of the lead going into the back nine and you’ve got a chance.”
Koepka also shot 2-under on Saturday. He made three birdies on the back nine, but bogeyed his final hole of the day to fall one shot back of Mickelson going into the final round.
“I left a lot out there,” admitted Koepka. “I’ve got a chance to win. All I wanted to do today is not give back any shots and be there tomorrow with a chance, and I’ve got that.”
Canadian Corey Conners has a chance, too.
It’s an outside chance, but he’s still in red figures and tied for 10th after three rounds. Conners is looking to become the first Canadian ever to notch three straight top-10 finishes at majors after impressive results at the Masters in 2020 (November) and 2021 (April).
“I feel very comfortable out here week in and week out, feeling more comfortable in these big events,” said Conners. “I want to put myself near the top.”
For the second day in a row, Conners, who shot a 1-over 73, said he felt like he was just a little bit off. He was short with the speed of his putts, caught a few bad wind gusts and missed a couple of approaches by barely-there margins.
“Kind of stumbled a little bit out there,” said Conners, “but still close enough where I think I have a shot.”
The other Canadian to make the cut, Adam Hadwin, shot 4over 76 and is 8-over for the championship.