Despite a Watery Finish, Mickelson’s Lead Is Eight

About the only question left for the final round of the BellSouth Classic is whether Phil Mickelson can make history.

The defending champion had five consecutive birdies on the front nine at Duluth, Ga., en route to a five-under-par 67 Saturday and an eight-stroke lead at 21-under 195.

It could have been even better, but he closed with a double bogey to finish four strokes off the best 54-hole total on a par-72 course in PGA Tour history -- Gay Brewer’s 25-under 191 in the 1967 Pensacola Open.

Jonathan Byrd and 2004 winner Zach Johnson were tied for second, and Jose Maria Olazabal was fourth at 12 under.

Johnson shot a 64 on Saturday to reach 13 under. Johnson also was at 203 through three rounds in 2004, but that year the total was good for a three-shot lead.

The difference, of course, is Mickelson.

“That’s just freaky good golf,” Johnson said.

Byrd shot a 66, his third round under 70.

Mickelson was 24 under and up by 12 before a bogey on 15. He then found water on two consecutive shots trying to reach the 18th green but salvaged the double bogey with a 26-foot putt.

The late problems kept Mickelson from becoming the first player in six years to lead by at least 10 strokes entering the final round of a tournament. Tiger Woods led by 10 entering the final round of the 2000 U.S. Open.

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Morris Hatalsky shot a five-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead over Scott Simpson, Gil Morgan, Danny Edwards, Tom Purtzer and Massy Kuramoto after the second round of the Blue Agave Golf Classic in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Hatalsky, who won the last of his two Champions Tour titles in 2003, had a seven-under 137 total at Vista Vallarta Golf Club.