* Sweden’s Hanson leads by one after third round
* Flawless Mickelson storms home on back nine
* McIlroy and Woods fall flat
(Updates at end of round)
By Julian Linden
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 7 (Reuters) – Phil Mickelson stormed
up the Masters leaderboard on Saturday to restore a sense of
normality on an extraordinary day at Augusta National as Rory
McIlroy relived his worst nightmare and Tiger Woods faded out of
contention.
Roared on by huge galleries, Mickelson produced a dazzling
display of shot-making and nerveless putting en route to a
flawless six-under 66.
The left-hander, already a three-time Masters champion,
finished the day at eight-under for the tournament and one shot
behind Sweden’s Peter Hanson, who birdied the last two holes for
a 65 and the outright lead.
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen, the runaway winner of the
2010 British Open, put himself in the frame for a second major
with a 69 to be third at seven under while Bubba Watson was a
further shot back after a two-under 70.
Saturday is traditionally known as Moving Day and this was
no exception. More than any other tournament, the intense
pressure of the Masters can bring out the best and worst in any
golfer and Saturday’s third round had it all.
Continued…
