US Open success beckons five-time runner-up Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson of the United States walks up the 18th hole during Round Three of the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club on June 15, 2013 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images)
Phil Mickelson has been chasing this dream all his professional life. ‘Lefty’ has clutched at his collection of five silver medals, swallowing his pride at not being able to take the final step.
The man from San Diego has a one stroke lead over Hunter Mahan, Charl Schwartzel and Steve Stricker. They are the only men at even or better at the 113th US Open at this demanding East Course of the Merion Golf Club in Philadelphia. With the course rebutting every advance with a punishing slap, Mickelson is the only suitor remaining at under par.
At the start on Saturday, there were as many as 30 players separated by just five strokes. When time was called at the end of the third round there were just 10 of them left in the reckoning within five strokes of each other. At 46, Stricker could become the oldest US Open champion if he can keep the course and his own age at bay on Sunday.
The American had a 70 on Saturday to stay even for the week alongside Mahan and South African Schwartzel, both scoring 69 in the third round. Schwartzel was in line for a 67, but surrendered bogeys at 17 and 18 to end the day one stroke behind Mickelson. Mahan also made four birdies on the back nine, but he too gave away strokes on the final two holes to take a 69.
The high point for Mickelson came at the 254 yard par-3 17th hole. Mickelson struck a four iron, almost to perfection, landing on the green, just enough to catch the slope and roll to within 15 feet of the pin. “It was one of the best shots I’ve ever hit,” said Mickelson, who went on to birdie the hole and take the lead at 2 under.
Meanwhile, Luke Donald, who till then was the outright leader seemed on course to the best round of the day. But then he found a left side bunker on the 17th with his 2-iron to surrender a shot. It got worse on the 18th, when the same club landed him in the thick rough to the right leading to a double bogey. Mickelson also lost a stroke on the 18th but his one under 209 is the marker to beat going into Sunday.
The low round of the day belonged to Jason Day, who made a two under 68 to make some amends for the 74 in the second round. Day made five birdies, but his success was tempered by back-to-back bogeys at 5 and 6 and another at the 18th hole.
The cut was set at 8 over, leaving 73 of the 156 starters contesting for the coveted title on Sunday. Dressed in crispy white tee, Tiger Woods was in business right away. The American laid up just short of the pin before reading the break to perfection to birdie the par-4 first hole. But the 14-time major champion hasn’t ever won a tournament when he over par after 36 holes. Was Merion about to change that for the man from Florida?