Golf: Mickelson takes six-stroke lead

SCOTTSDALE: Phil Mickelson birdied the last four holes to fire a seven-under 64 Saturday, grabbing a six-stroke lead at the the Phoenix Open with the second-lowest 54-hole score in US PGA Tour history. Mickelson, who flirted with a 59 before settling for a first-round 60 and carded a second-round 65 that was marred by a double bogey at 18, had no late lapse in Saturday’s third round. “Your adrenaline is going there so I always take five yards off the distance and I just hit a hard 9-iron,” said Mickelson. “It turned out pretty good.” His 24-under par total of 189 put him six strokes in front of fellow American Brandt Snedeker, who had six birdies in firing a 65 to stand second. Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington fired a superb 63 to move to a share of third place on 16 under with Ryan Moore.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2013.