Mickelson Closes on Lead

Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els skipped the BellSouth Classic to focus on the Masters. Not Phil Mickelson.

Tuning up for his Masters defense, Mickelson shot a seven-under 65 on Sunday to move within one stroke of leader Scott McCarron with one round to play in the rain-delayed BellSouth Classic.

McCarron, the 1997 and 2001 winner at the TPC at Sugarloaf, shot his second straight 69 for a six-under 138 total.

Mickelson, the No. 4 player in the world and a two-time winner this season, had the best round of the tournament as conditions improved with sun, temperatures in the low 60s and wind of 15-20 mph. He holed a 26-yard pitch for eagle on the 310-yard, par-four 13th, and had six birdies and a bogey in the round.

“I love playing the week before a major and I love how this tournament has set the course up as close to Augusta as possible,” Mickelson said.

“The greens are the same, the areas around the greens are the same. I think that it’s a great place to start hitting the shots that I will need to hit at the Masters.”

Mickelson opened the day tied for 61st after a 74 on Saturday in the opening round plagued by rain, sleet, snow and 40-mph wind.

Rain washed out play on Thursday and Friday, forcing PGA Tour officials to shorten the tournament to 54 holes and push the finish back to today.

“I knew I needed to do something,” Mickelson said. “I was fortunate to be able to do it and at least have a chance going into tomorrow. Being within one of the lead heading into tomorrow should be a fun opportunity to try to win this tournament.”

Jose Maria Olazabal (69) and first-round co-leader Billy Mayfair (69) matched Mickelson at five under, and Arron Oberholser (68), Tag Ridings (68), Brian Bateman (68), Joey Snyder III (69) and Rich Beem (70) were four under.

Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen (69) was three under in a group that included defending champion Zach Johnson (66).

Mickelson is one of the 19 players remaining in the field who will play in the Masters, which begins Thursday at Augusta National.

Six others withdrew, including Stuart Appleby and Chris DiMarco, without hitting a shot.

It was never a thought for Mickelson.

“I enjoy being able to play a competitive round closer to the start of the Masters,” Mickelson said.

“When you don’t have a chance to practice for a couple of days, I understand why some guys pulled out. It’s individual preference.”

Mickelson practiced for 10 hours at Augusta on Tuesday.

McCarron, who has won only one other tournament away from this course, can’t explain his success here.

“It’s a golf course that I really love,” McCarron said. “I look forward to coming here. Certainly winning twice, but I’ve missed the cut a few times here, too. I’ve played good and I’ve played not so good.”

Olazabal had a 40 on the front, including a triple bogey on the 248-yard, par-three eighth when he had a two-shot penalty. There were still 33 players on the course when play was suspended by darkness.

The cut, which will come after those players complete their rounds this morning, is expected to be at two over.

Rain has affected eight of the 14 PGA Tour events this year.