Gay in lead; Mickelson 10 shots back at St. Jude

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The encouragement came at Phil Mickelson as he spent nearly 30 minutes signing autographs for fans after a steamy day that featured 21 holes.

“We’re praying for you,” one fan offered.

“We’re praying for your wife,” another said.

And Mickelson, his eyes red, kept signing even as he moved away from a shady tree to take care of people waiting patiently in the baking sun. He didn’t escape to the air-conditioned clubhouse until everyone still nearby was satisfied.

It’s nothing new for Mickelson, even after a long day where his putter remained balky in shooting a 2-under 68 Saturday. That put him 10 strokes behind Brian Gay — who can punch his ticket to Bethpage Black and the U.S. Open if he finishes off a wire-to-wire victory today in the St. Jude Classic.

Gay shot a second consecutive 4-under 66 to keep the lead by a stroke, this time over Bryce Molder (65) after the third round at TPC Southwind.

But it’s Mickelson almost everyone here is following, the world’s No. 2 drawing the biggest crowds in only his second visit to TPC Southwind. With this his first event since announcing wife Amy’s diagnosis of breast cancer, those fans seem to be trying to will Mickelson to birdies that might distract him from what the couple is dealing with, if even for a moment.

“It’s pretty flattering. The people here have been terrific,” Mickelson said.

Mickelson started by finishing his last three holes of the second round because storms stopped play Friday, causing damage including a tree partially downed near the 15th hole. He went birdie, bogey and double bogey. Then he had five birdies and three bogeys in the third.

“I haven’t putted well the first three days. I feel like I’ve struck the ball well but have not been able to get it in the hole and shoot a number, a good low number and mostly because of the putter,” Mickelson said. “I’ll spend sometime on that in the next few days and should be able to get it ironed out for next week.”

Gay came into this event among seven who had a chance to earn a trip to Bethpage Black with a win. The man who won Hilton Head by 10 strokes in April insists that wasn’t his goal here. He expected to be off next week after he missed qualifying by three strokes and wasn’t thinking about the Open.

“Not till you mention it. Not really. Not when I’m out there, I don’t think about it. I mean it’s a major. I’d love to play in it. I expected to be off next week ... I’ve got enough work to do here to not have to worry about that. Nothing I need to think about,” Gay said.

Gay was at 14-under 196. Robert Allenby (68) was alone in third at 11 under, Paul Goydos (64) was 10 under, and Woody Austin (68), Heath Slocum (67) and Vaughn Taylor (69) were 9 under.