Mickelson didn’t swing as well as the first two days. “It could have been a day that got away from me but I’m pleased I found a way to shoot under par and kept myself in it”. This is Stenson’s first 54-hole lead in a major championship.
Advertisement
Mickelson has the greater credentials, including an Open Championship as recently as 2013, when Stenson was his nearest rival.
It looks like a two-man race. In all, nine players were within six shots of the lead.
TROON, Scotland (AP) – Phil Mickelson finally gave up the lead at the British Open. Rory McIlroy started well enough with three birdies in seven holes to reach five under par. It was on Thursday, too.
Henrik Stenson or Phil Mickelson will win the 145th Open Championship. Willett holed a 25-foot par putt to make the weekend.
SHOT OF THE DAY: Stenson hit 3-iron to 20 feet for a birdie on the 17th hole for a two-shot lead that gave him the lead.
A few notable rounds of the day were Bill Haas (-2), Andrew “Beef” Johnson (-1), and Steve Stricker (-3). Mickelson fell behind when he missed the green to the left, and failed to hole a par putt from 18 feet. This is the one thing I’m looking for.
The 49-year-old American turned in another fine round Saturday, shooting a 3-under 68 in cool, blustery conditions at Royal Troon. Johnson made two double bogeys the day before.
Phil Mickelson is lucky as well as good.
An errant drive at the 555-yard fourth hole forced Lefty to settle for a par.
NOTEWORTHY: This is the first time Stenson has led outright after any round in a major.
Instead, a combination of good fortune, improvisation and typical short-game magic meant Mickelson will head into the final round just one shot behind Henrik Stenson at Royal Troon. The Swede rolled in a 10-footer for birdie at the first hole, quickly pulling into a tie for the lead in the final group.
The French flag was at half-staff after the carnage in Nice, casting a somber mood on the second round of the British Open.
The world No 4 finds himself eight strokes off midway pacesetter Phil Mickelson after posting a second-round 71 in tough conditions on the Ayrshire coast, where the afternoon starters struggled in wind and rain.
“A hot front nine could change that”.
Okay, so some did manage to make gains on the inward stretch, but back-nine totals of 40 or more were commonplace. Top-ranked Jason Day felt the wrath of Royal Troon. He shot a 73 and is even par and tied for 18th. “After six tournaments not being there, it’s certainly time to get going”.
“This is a new opportunity and it would be massive to win the Open in Scotland”, the Ryder Cup star said. He plays on the senior circuit now.
Jordan Spieth is doing his best to get back in the mix at the British Open.
“I was off today”, conceded Phil Mickelson.
Curtis chipped onto the green and two-putted for 10.
Haydn Porteous also was 3 under for his round and at 1 over.
Two French golfers were in the British Open field: Victor Dubuisson and Clement Sordet. He was one of only 13 players to break par on a day of intermittent showers and gusts of up to 30 miles per hour off the Irish Sea.
Advertisement
All in all, the 2003 champion at Royal St. George’s had six shots in the sand, starting with taking three to get out of a fairway bunker after pushing his tee shot left.
