Phoenix Open Golf Tournament : Hot Streak Puts Calcavecchia in a Familiar Spot

Mark Calcavecchia, in the same situation a week ago, let a title get away from him.

“I learned something last week,” Calcavecchia said Saturday after his late burst of 4 birdies and an eagle gave him a 3-stroke lead after three rounds of the $700,000 Phoenix Open golf tournament.

“I was playing so good--just like I am now--and I got the lead going into Sunday and I had the feeling inside of me that I was going to win,” he said. “I really expected to win. And I blew it.

“I’m going into the last round tomorrow with a different attitude out there,” the long-hitting Calcavecchia said after his brilliant run had produced a 6-under-par 65 for a 54-hole total of 199 and a 3-shot lead.

“I’m not going to expect to win,” he said. “I’m going to try to win. That’s different.”

Calcavecchia was three shots off the pace when he went to the 13th tee and began a birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie string that vaulted him into the lead.

Gary Hallberg and Mark McCumber shared second place at 202 going into today’s final round.

Hallberg made a 50-foot eagle putt in his round of 66, and McCumber shot a 69.