Slice of luck keeps Mickelson in Open hunt

A spectator's leg inadvertently kept U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson in contention for the British Open on Saturday.

At the end of the penultimate round, Mickelson was just two strokes behind the leader and fellow-American Todd Hamilton thanks to a huge slice of luck on the 15th.

Mickelson's drive was heading out of bounds when it struck a spectator's leg.

"It hit the guy's leg, it should have been out," he said. "You have to take it when you can get it. I hit a three wood to try to hold the ball a little bit but when I saw it in the air I thought for sure it was out.

"It was right on the edge because I had to stand on the road to play the shot. Clearly it was a tremendous break."

Mickelson has not dropped a shot for 37 holes after starting his week with a 73 but he had to ride his luck on Saturday to keep his card clean.

His opening drive beat the gallery fence and landed in the rough on the 18th and he also threatened the gallery again at the last.

"It's nice not to give shots away," he said. "I kinda needed that after my start to the week."

The Augusta champion reiterated that it was his seven-day preparation at Troon prior to Thursday's start that gave him a chance of claiming the claret jug.

"I know where to put the ball to make par in difficult conditions and that's kept me in the tournament," he said.

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