* Sweden’s Hanson leads by one after third round
* Flawless Mickelson storms home on back nine
* McIlroy and Woods fall flat
(Adds Mickelson, McIlroy quotes)
By Julian Linden
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 7 (Reuters) – Phil Mickelson stormed
up the Masters leaderboard on Saturday to finish within a shot
of surprise third round leader Peter Hanson and restore some
sense of normality to the first major of the year.
Mickelson produced a dazzling display of shot-making and
nerveless putting in a flawless six-under-par 66 on a day when
Rory McIlroy relived his worst nightmare and Tiger Woods faded
out of contention.
The left-hander, already a three-time Masters champion,
entered the clubhouse at eight-under for the tournament and
breathing down the neck of Hanson, who birdied the last two
holes for a 65, the best round of the tournament.
“I love it here and I love nothing more than being in the
last group on Sunday at the Masters. It’s the greatest thing in
professional golf,” said Mickelson.
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 American Bubba Watson
was a further shot back after a 70.
Continued…
