Mickelson and Watney tied for CA Championship lead

March 15, 2009

Phil Mickelson managed a three-under 69 on Saturday, but was joined in the lead by Nick Watney after three rounds of the WGC-CA Championship.

The pair is knotted at 16-under 200 and is four clear at Doral Resort and Spa.

Jeev Milkha Singh (68) and Camilo Villegas (69) share third place at minus-12.

Tiger Woods, playing his first stroke-play event since knee surgery after last year’s epic U.S. Open victory, posted a four-under 68 and moved into a tie for 19th at seven-under 209.

Woods’ story on Saturday was that of a balky putter. He missed several chances inside 10 feet and things like that have kept him out of contention so far this week.

“I hit it great today. I hit it the best I’ve hit it in a long time,” said Woods, a six-time former champion. “Unfortunately, I’m just not making any putts.”

Woods birdied the first, but missed an eight-footer for birdie at No. 5. He rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt at the ninth to reach five-under par for the championship, well behind the leaders.

The world No. 1 two-putted for birdie at the par-five 10th, but missed another short one for birdie at 12. Woods got a short one to fall at 14, then hit a terrible approach into a bunker at 16.

When the putter wasn’t working, Woods decided to make birdies in a different fashion. He holed his bunker shot at the 16th for a birdie, but hit the lip of a fairway bunker en route to bogey one hole later.

Woods hit a spectacular, hooking second shot with a three-iron to 16 feet at the famed Blue Monster 18th, but his birdie putt stayed above ground.

Despite being out of the tournament, barring a miraculous comeback, Woods feels he’s improving with every round played.

“I’m getting better each day, the feel of playing in the game again at this level is coming back,” said Woods. “Ball-striking-wise, very happy with how things are progressing. Unfortunately I’m just not getting it done on the greens.”

Woods, as well as the whole field, will need to get it done on the greens if he’s to catch the co-leaders.

For Mickelson, he will be in search of his 36th PGA Tour victory, but his first in an individual WGC competition.

“It would be a really cool thing to do that,” said Mickelson, referring to his first WGC win.

But for Watney, this win would be much more. He has a pair of tour wins, including this year’s Buick Invitational, but has never performed on this kind of stage.

“Pretty sure if you told anyone on Thursday morning before we teed off that this is the situation, I would take it in a heartbeat,” admitted Watney. “I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

The challenge basically comes from Mickelson alone. The four-stroke cushion certainly does not eliminate all from contention, but the co-leaders will have an up-close seat to the action at the top the leaderboard.

“I think at some point, if we stay out ahead, I think it will turn into a one- on-one situation,” acknowledged Watney. “At this point, there are so many holes to play and so much can happen that I don’t think it’s match-play just yet.”

Mickelson began the round with a two-shot lead, but Watney erased that at the fourth. Mickelson found water and Watney hit his tee shot to 13 feet. Mickelson made bogey, while Watney poured in his third consecutive birdie to join Mickelson atop the leaderboard.

Watney grabbed the lead at the turn after Mickelson three-putted the seventh green for a bogey. Both missed easy birdie tries from inside seven feet at nine, but the duo was even again after Watney made a mess of the 11th. It was his first bogey of the championship, but it opened the door for Mickelson.

Mickelson knocked his third to 10 feet at the par-five 12th and appeared to be in good shape for birdie. Watney drained his 20-footer for birdie first, but Mickelson answered and the two remained tied.

Mickelson hit a beautiful five-iron that rolled up to the hole, hit the flagstick and ran another foot. He should’ve had an ace, but settled for a birdie and a one-shot lead after Watney made a nice save from the bunker.

At the 14th, Mickelson converted a six-footer for his third birdie in a row. He was two ahead, but Watney pulled within one thanks to a 12-foot birdie effort. Mickelson was a foot closer with his birdie chance, but his putt lipped out of the left side.

Mickelson hit a horrendous drive at 17 and had to battle with a gigantic tree in front of him. His second found the fairway, but he hit a poor third 32 feet from the cup. Mickelson missed the par save and made bogey, which tied the two at minus-16.

Both hammered drives down the 18th fairway, but Watney hit his second long and left, safely avoiding the water. Mickelson’s approach stopped 15 feet from the flag. After a free drop, Watney chipped to two feet. Mickelson missed his birdie try and the two tapped in for pars and the 54-hole lead.

“Nick’s playing very good golf, hitting the ball very well,” said Mickelson. “I think he’s going to be very difficult to get past tomorrow because he’s playing so good.”

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