9:04AM
Newsday (N.Y.): Tiger and Phil can't take advantage of perfect conditions during Round 3 of PGA Championship
9:04 AM
By Art Spander
Special to Newsday
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- In the rankings, if not in actuality, they are the two best golfers in the world: Tiger Woods, No. 1, Phil Mickelson, No. 2. And when they began the third round of the PGA Championship Saturday afternoon, each believed he would be a factor.
Mickelson shot 33 his last nine of the second round Friday, and Woods, who had to play the final 12 holes of his delayed second round Saturday morning, came in with a 2-under-par 70.
But this tournament belongs to others, to younger, less famous players.
Woods had three bogeys on the front nine of his third round Saturday afternoon and even though he recovered with four birdies on the back, he finished at par 72 and a three-round, 3-under total of 213. Mickelson wasn't even that good. He shot a 1-over 73 for 215.
So the PGA Championship's two biggest stars are far back. Woods, who will go a second straight year without winning a major, is tied for 31st place after 54 holes, and Mickelson, who took the Masters in April, is among a group tied for 48th.
Others were able to conquer the Whistling Straits layout along the Lake Michigan shoreline -- for instance Wen-chong Liang of China shot a course-record 8-under 64, moving from a tie for 47th to a tie for fourth -- but not Mickelson and Woods.
Tiger had his moments. In both the second and third rounds, he shot 3-under 33s on the back nine. But he was over par all three rounds on the front; his shots too often landed in bunkers or rough, and he couldn't always save par.
"Ironically,'' Woods said, "I hit the ball better than I did the first two days. I made nothing.''
Mickelson was in anything but a good mood.
"The golf course was there to be had,'' he said ruefully. "It was a very frustrating day.''
The holes that stymied Woods were the holes he used to own, the par 5s.
"Tell me about it,'' was his comment. "I haven't played them well all week. You've got to make birdies on par 5s, and I haven't done that."
He did it twice on the 11th hole, including the third round, but of the 12 par 5s he's played so far, Woods also has had three bogeys, including the 16th during the third round.
"I struggle there for some reason,'' he said of the 569-yard hole, "even when I hit a good shot [off the tee]."
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http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/tiger-and-phil-can-t-take-advantage-of-perfect-conditions-during-round-3-of-pga-championship-1.2210502
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.
Special to Newsday
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- In the rankings, if not in actuality, they are the two best golfers in the world: Tiger Woods, No. 1, Phil Mickelson, No. 2. And when they began the third round of the PGA Championship Saturday afternoon, each believed he would be a factor.
Mickelson shot 33 his last nine of the second round Friday, and Woods, who had to play the final 12 holes of his delayed second round Saturday morning, came in with a 2-under-par 70.
But this tournament belongs to others, to younger, less famous players.
Woods had three bogeys on the front nine of his third round Saturday afternoon and even though he recovered with four birdies on the back, he finished at par 72 and a three-round, 3-under total of 213. Mickelson wasn't even that good. He shot a 1-over 73 for 215.
So the PGA Championship's two biggest stars are far back. Woods, who will go a second straight year without winning a major, is tied for 31st place after 54 holes, and Mickelson, who took the Masters in April, is among a group tied for 48th.
Others were able to conquer the Whistling Straits layout along the Lake Michigan shoreline -- for instance Wen-chong Liang of China shot a course-record 8-under 64, moving from a tie for 47th to a tie for fourth -- but not Mickelson and Woods.
Tiger had his moments. In both the second and third rounds, he shot 3-under 33s on the back nine. But he was over par all three rounds on the front; his shots too often landed in bunkers or rough, and he couldn't always save par.
"Ironically,'' Woods said, "I hit the ball better than I did the first two days. I made nothing.''
Mickelson was in anything but a good mood.
"The golf course was there to be had,'' he said ruefully. "It was a very frustrating day.''
The holes that stymied Woods were the holes he used to own, the par 5s.
"Tell me about it,'' was his comment. "I haven't played them well all week. You've got to make birdies on par 5s, and I haven't done that."
He did it twice on the 11th hole, including the third round, but of the 12 par 5s he's played so far, Woods also has had three bogeys, including the 16th during the third round.
"I struggle there for some reason,'' he said of the 569-yard hole, "even when I hit a good shot [off the tee]."
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http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/tiger-and-phil-can-t-take-advantage-of-perfect-conditions-during-round-3-of-pga-championship-1.2210502
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.
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