An error-Philed day at the Masters

Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at the Masters and providing content for jacksonville.com This is his entry on Saturday April 12 following third-round play.


AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It wasn't as bad as giving away the 2006 U.S. Open on the final hole at Winged Foot, but Phil Mickelson's prodigious drop from contender to near afterthought in the third round of the Masters makes you wonder if all is right with Lefty.
On a day where soft conditions enabled most players on the leaderboard to post numbers in the 60s, Mickelson blew himself out of any realistic chance of winning a third green jacket by firing an inexplicable 75.
"I felt like I was going to have a good round today," said Mickelson. "I don't know what to say."
Mickelson got within two shots of the lead with a birdie at the par-five second hole. But every time he appeared to gain momentum, he gave it away with self-destructive play in what really wasn't difficult circumstances.
He caught a bad break at the par-five No. 8 hole, hitting the pin with his short approach shot, and the ball bounced back much further from the hole. He ended up three-putting for bogey, missing the par attempt from three feet.
Two more bogeys at No. 10 and 12 were followed by birdies at 13 and 14, but by that time, most of the leaders were running further away and Tiger Woods also passed him. Then came the final dagger on a rough day, a double-bogey at the par-three 16th after he plunked his tee shot into a bunker and a three-putted.
Suddenly, the Phil Mickelson that was starting to close the wide gap between him and Woods a couple years ago is looking shakier than ever on the big stage.