THE MASTERS

Birdie: the Golf Gods. You curse them when your approach shot rolls aimlessly into a bunker and when your putt lips out for an 89. But the Golf Gods deserve a birdie for pairing Tiger Woods with Phil Mickelson today at Augusta National. This Masters tournament has lacked some sizzle. We haven’t witnessed a miracle chip-in or double eagle or sterling performance by a teenage phenom or past champion. (OK, Greg Norman’s first round was close). But to make up for it, we get the wonderfully uncomfortable pairing of Woods and Mickelson, two all-time greats who seemingly can’t stand each other. It will be the 24th time they play together in a PGA Tour event -- and the first time in the final round of a major since the 2001 Masters. Woods has an 11-8-4 head-to-head record against Mickelson in those rounds. If Woods hasn’t memorized those numbers, here’s guessing that caddie Steve Williams has.

Birdie: Angel Cabrera. His terrific approach on No. 18. Cabrera had to wait decades for the green to clear. He finally slashed his approach from under the trees and began to run up the hill to check the result, a la Sergio Garcia at the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah.

Bogey: Anthony Kim. He flew into contention after mocking Augusta National with 11 birdies on Friday. He followed that with a five-birdie round of 72. Not bad but also not enough to give him realistic hope for a Sunday charge.

Birdie: Ian Poulter. He shot 68 to tie for the day’s low round. Pretty satisfying, huh? “No,” he replied. Poulter made five birdies but the Englishman wanted more.

Bogey: Mike Weir. The 2003 Masters champ shot the day’s highest round, a 79.

Birdie: Steve Stricker. He actually deserves a par. Stricker has not made a bogey since the second hole of his second round -- a streak of 35 holes that ranks as his career best for a major.

-- Teddy Greenstein