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Mickelson MIA: Phil Mickelson won the Masters and lost the U.S. Open on the 72nd hole. At the third major, he has been reduced to a couch potato. "It's going to be an interesting day watching the leaders play," Mickelson said Saturday after needing a birdie-par-eagle finish for a 73, leaving him 10 shots out of the lead. "I just wish I was one of the leaders." Mickelson reached 4 under after his first 10 holes of the championship, but has been sliding ever since. He didn't make his first birdie Saturday until the par-5 16th hole. "After I was 3 over after nine and realizing that the chances of winning were not there, I just wanted to play well, hit good shots and keep grinding, and see if I could get it to turn. The last three holes were nice. That was good, but not quite enough." Mickelson twice made special trips to Hoylake to study the course, although he mentioned at the start of the week that no matter how well he understands the subtle nuances, it still comes down to hitting shots. "I want to really get together one good round of golf," he said. "I know I can do that here."
Timely ace: John Senden lost all momentum when he took triple bogey on the 11th after losing his ball in high grass. The consolation came two holes later with a 6-iron that went into the cup for an ace on the par-3 13th. "I didn't see it go in as there was a hill just short of the green," Senden said. "Pretty good cheer." Senden wound up with a 73 after an up-and-down day. He had two birdies, the hole-in-one for an eagle and no bogeys. The trouble was that triple at No. 11, and a double-bogey 7 on the 18th hole when he hit into three bunkers. The highlight, obviously, was the ace. "It's exciting when things happen like that, and it certainly will jog my memory when I'm thinking about this place," he said.
A tip for Cabrera: Angel Cabrera is one of the biggest hitters on the PGA Tour, and he's not afraid to use his driver at Royal Liverpool -- especially after playing with Seve Ballesteros during a practice round earlier this week. "I said to Seve, 'How do you play this golf course?' And Seve said, 'The closer you get it to the green, the more chance you have.' And that's the way it's played," Cabrera said. While Tiger Woods has hit only one driver in three rounds at Hoylake, the Argentine is hitting driver "whenever I can." The only time he used an iron off the tee was on Nos. 2, 4 and 8. "Everywhere else I hit driver," he said. "Except the par 3s." Cabrera has played all three days with Mark Calcavecchia, another guy who likes to swing from the heels. "I get on well with him," he said. "He's easy to play with."
Showtime: Scott Verplank finished his 67 before Tiger Woods and Ernie Els headed for the practice range. Verplank reached 6 under, which at least gave him a shot to pick up Ryder Cup points if he can play well today to get into the top 10. A TV reporter asked if he would go back to his room and watch the "confrontation" between Woods and Els. "They are both supremely talented players and it's going to be fun, and hopefully, it will be good back-and-forth and nip-and-tuck," Verplank said. "And if it isn't, I'll probably take a nap."
Associated Press
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