Mickelson stays two ahead of Woods

Phil Mickelson heard the roars of a dynamic charge ahead of him. Every time he glanced at the leaderboard, he noticed Tiger Woods taking another shot off his lead until it was down to two Saturday in the Ford Championship at Doral.

Lefty was loving it.

``I had a different feeling today,'' Mickelson said after his 6-under 66. ``I wanted him to play well. I want to go head-to-head with him. I've been looking forward to the chance to play head-to-head against him. If I'm able to turn things around from the past and come out on top, it will make for a very special week.''

Doral could not have asked for a better duel.

Mickelson continued to bully the Blue Monster with a variety of wedge shots from thick rough that gave him birdie chances, and left him at 20-under 196 and in the lead for the 10th consecutive round in stroke play.

Woods energized the monstrous gallery with his power, driving the green on the 347-yard 16th hole and making good on a birthday pledge to his father to shoot a low round. His 8-foot birdie on the final hole gave him a 9-under 63, the low score of the tournament, and put him two shots behind.

``We're going to have a bunch of fun tomorrow,'' Woods said. ``It's going to be competitive, and I think we're both going to be focused on making a bunch of birdies.''

The gallery might not realize this, but there were other players with an outside chance at Doral.

Zach Johnson, who had to pull out of the pro-am with a bad back, shot a 64 and was six shots behind at 14 under, along with James Driscoll (67) and defending champion Craig Parry (67).

Vijay Singh couldn't keep pace with a 68 and was seven shots behind, joined by two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal (70) and former U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk (67).

But all that mattered to anyone were two of the biggest names in golf -- Phil and Tiger.

They last played in the final group at the 2003 Buick Invitational, after Lefty had made his infamous ``inferior equipment'' comment. Woods went on to win by four, with Mickelson six shots behind.

Mickelson repeatedly said his record was not so stellar against Woods, although he usually is having to make up ground. He is one of three players on the PGA Tour to beat him from behind, at the 2000 Tour Championship.

``Five years ago -- great,'' Mickelson deadpanned.

Lefty was plenty loose as he considered a Sunday showdown against a player he described as ``tough,'' and someone who when ``just a fraction off of his best is still better than just about anybody in the game.''

While it looks like a two-man race on Sunday, Mickelson cautioned not to forget about the rest of the field.

``We want to make sure that we don't let them back in the tournament,'' he said. ``Because if we play anything like we did at the Ryder Cup together, that is a very real possibility.''

The Ryder Cup is one reason Sunday is so compelling. Longtime rivals, they were paired for two matches at Oakland Hills last September, and it was awkward. Woods and Mickelson rarely spoke and wound up losing both matches.

How much conversation will there be Sunday?

``Probably a little bit,'' Mickelson said. ``At least on the front nine.''

``Hey, we're competitors,'' Woods said. ``We're going to just try to make a bunch of birdies and see what happens.''

But Lefty has a big advantage Sunday. Not only does he have a two-shot cushion, he is playing the best golf of anyone on the PGA Tour. Mickelson won by five shots in Phoenix and went wire-to-wire at Pebble Beach to win by five.

This dream pairing was set up on the back nine.

Woods had six birdies, finishing his round with an 8-footer on the 18th and a message for his father, Earl, who turned 73 on Saturday.

``Happy birthday, dad. I told you I would shoot a low one for you, and I did,'' Woods said to NBC Sports.

It was one of the most energetic days at Doral since Greg Norman was in his prime -- blue sky, warm sunshine and a leaderboard packed with the best players in golf.

Fans stood six-deep around the putting green when Woods and Mickelson were warming up, and the first fairway was lined with fans from tee-to-green on both sides when Woods started his third round. One boy injured his arm when he fell from a tree trying to get a glimpse of the action.

And there was plenty of action.

Mickelson was magical with his wedges, and he had to be. He hit only four fairways, but drove it long enough that he still managed to set up six birdies. He bagged three in a row on the front nine, and looked as though he might turn another tournament into a runaway.

``It's fun to watch if you're a spectator,'' Johnson said. ``Kind of stinks if you're part of it.''

Woods became a big part of it with tremendous shots along the back nine.

He hammered his new 3-wood some 270 yards just over the flag on the par-5 10th, setting up an easy up-and-down for birdie from just off the green. With another big 3-wood, this one from 262 yards into a stiff breeze, Woods became the first player all week to reach the 603-yard 12th hole in two for another birdie.

Then came the 16th, where the tees were moved up 25 yards to tempt players to drive the green. Woods didn't realize he reached the green until he was halfway up the fairway.

``No one clapped,'' Woods said. ``We didn't have any clue. I just knew I hit it in the direction of the green.''

After Woods got within one shot with his birdie on the 18th, Mickelson hit another beautiful wedge from the rough the 16th and holed a 6-footer for birdie.

The Ford Championship was thrilled by getting one of the best fields of the year.

Now it gets a duel most tournaments can only dream of having.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page