Torrey Pines eases his mind

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It just wasn’t meant to be for Phil Mickelson, who came to the Masters believing he had a chance to win for the third time and left it knowing he didn’t play well enough.

Closing with an even-par round of 72 in Sunday’s difficult, windy conditions didn’t allow Mickelson to make up any ground, not when he had begun the day nine shots out of the lead. He tied for fifth at two-under 286, his 11th top-10 finish in 16 appearances at the Masters.

“I think it would have been a good round let’s say Thursday or Friday, but when you’re far back you’ve got to shoot something in the 60s, probably mid-60s, and it just wasn’t enough.”

Still, Mickelson is already thinking about the next major -- the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, basically in his backyard.

“It’s already in the back of my mind. Growing up there, that tournament means a lot to me, living in San Diego playing high school golf matches there at Torrey.”

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From Jim Furyk, on the course conditions as compared with 2007: “I can’t remember yesterday, let alone last year.”

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The Weekley File: Boo Weekley shot a 77 and wound up at three-over 291. It was all about the gusty winds, said Weekley: “That’s crazy golf when you got that much wind blowing. Fighting all the other stuff flying in the air.”

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Seven shots back to start the day, Stewart Cink shot even par and ended up tied for third with Brandt Snedeker at four-under 284. He was as shocked as anyone.

“It was a difficult day. There was the wind coming from all over the place, and it was blowing pretty hard at times. It would gust really strong, and then it would lay down. And not only did you have to hit the ball solid and make the right decision, but you also had to catch the wind at the right moment.

“And, overall, even par, I didn’t feel like I gained a lot of ground, but in the end it looks like I may have.”

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The hottest player coming into the Masters -- besides Tiger Woods -- might have been Geoff Ogilvy, but it wasn’t his week. Ogilvy closed with a 74 Sunday and finished at eight-over 296.

That’s not what Ogilvy expected after ending Woods’ winning streak with a victory at the CA Championship and then tying for second last week at Houston. He was a combined 34 under in those events.

He said he learned something this week. “I’ve got to get the ball in the hole a little better.”

Ogilvy had one birdie on the par-fives.

“It’s just one of those weeks. I didn’t learn any more about how to play this course than I did last year, I just didn’t take advantage of any opportunities. So what are you going to do?”

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In Thursday’s first round, Miguel Angel Jimenez shot 77 and was tied for 75th. He was probably also close to checking his airline ticket home, but the 44-year-old Spaniard played the last 54 holes in six under and wound up in a tie for eighth at one-under 287.

“It was very satisfying. That was the goal, no? For the weekend, you know, just to make the cut on Friday and then hope to jump up as much as possible.”

Jimenez holed out from the fairway on No. 7 with a seven-iron for eagle and closed with a 68.

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With Woods acting serious about the Masters when he shot a 68 Saturday, CBS earned an overnight metered market rating of 6.1 - the same as last year -- but up 20% from a 5.1 in 2006. The Saturday rating was the highest third-round overnight rating since a 6.2 in 2003.

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thomas.bonk@latimes.com