SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Phil Mickelson was locked in concentration over a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th hole, the some 20,000 onlookers mostly quiet on the amphitheater hole except a fan who screamed “Tiger would make it!”
Playing partner Bill Haas heard it, but Mickelson was oblivious to the slight, perfectly striking the putt that drew a thunderous cheer when it dropped in.
“It’s Saturday of the Phoenix Open. It’s always fun,” Mickelson said. “There’s a lot of people out here. I don’t think there’s a shot I wanted to make more, other than a major championship, than that putt on 16. I wanted to make that so bad.
“To see that go in with the crowd right there was a great feeling.”
The birdie and another on the short par-4 17th helped Mickelson close within four strokes of leader Tommy Gainey halfway through the frost- delayed tournament.
“There’s a lot of golf left,” Mickelson said. “Even though it’s Saturday — it feels like it’s the third round — but we’ve only played two, so we’re halfway through, and to be within a few shots, it’s where everybody is trying to get to.”
The former Arizona State star — winner at TPC Scottsdale in 1996 and 2005 — birdied six of the last 11 holes for a 6-under 65. He was 10-under for two rounds in the tournament that will end Monday because of long delays Thursday and Friday.
Gainey played nine holes Saturday, finishing off a 65 after shooting a career-best 63 on Friday.
“My ball-striking is really good,” Gainey said. “I hit a couple of bad shots today, but they weren’t bad enough to get in any trouble. I always think that’s a good thing, because as we all know, golf is a game of misses. So my misses today were pretty good.”
Mark Wilson was 13-under, completing a 64 on Saturday.
“Everything just flowed good today,” Wilson said. “I felt very calm.”
Haas was 12-under after his second 65. He lost a playoff two weeks ago in the Bob Hope Classic, then tied for ninth at Torrey Pines after fading in the final round.
“I really felt good going into Sunday last week and shot 75, so I’d argue that I’m not 100 percent sharp, just had some good finishes,” Haas said. “But to come out after doing that and shoot a pair of 65s feels pretty good.”
Chris Couch (65) was 11-under, while Rickie Fowler had a 62 to join Mickelson at 10-under.
