Golf
Mickelson takes control
2009-09-27 22:17
Email | Print
Atlanta - Phil Mickelson rattled up four birdies in seven holes to overhaul fellow American Kenny Perry and snatch a two-shot lead midway through Sunday's final round of the Tour Championship.
Four strokes off the pace overnight at East Lake, the left-hander raced to the turn in a sizzling four-under-par 31 to close in on his third PGA Tour victory of the year.
Behind the green in two at the par-five ninth, Mickelson got up and down for his birdie to reach eight under overall, two ahead of Perry who covered the front nine in an untidy 37.
World number one Tiger Woods, after nine holes, was a further shot back at five under in a tie for third with compatriots Steve Marino and Sean O'Hair.
With FedExCup honours also on the line at East Lake, Marino had completed 11 holes and O'Hair nine in the PGA Tour's fourth and final playoff event of the season.
Woods, four behind the pace-setting Perry overnight, made a poor start, bogeying the par-four first after pulling his tee shot well left behind a tree from where he could only chip out sideways back on to the fairway.
That left him three behind Perry who parred the opening hole before briefly stretching his lead to four when he rolled in a 29-foot birdie putt at the par-three second.
However, Perry immediately stumbled with a bogey at the third after overshooting the green with his approach and ending up with an awkward lie in the back left bunker.
Moments later his lead was trimmed to just two when Mickelson drained a 30-footer at the fourth to register his second birdie in a row.
Perry dropped his second shot of the day at the par-four fifth, where he ended up in the right rough off the tee, to lie just one stroke ahead of the chasing pack at seven under.
Mickelson spectacularly birdied the par-four eighth to draw level with Perry, almost holing out with his approach from 123 yards before tapping in the one-foot putt.
He then sank a curling 11-footer on the ninth green to take the outright lead for the first time before Perry, playing in the group behind, bogeyed the hole to hand Mickelson a two-shot cushion.
Click HERE for the latest golf odds on BET.CO.ZABet.co.za online Pty Ltd t/a Bet.co.za is licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board. Winners know when to stop. National Responsible Gambling Program 0800 006 008. No under 18's allowed.
Flash content loading, please wait..