Lefty overcomes, co-leads tourney

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This article was published 19/02/2012 (5306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LOS ANGELES — One shot clipped an ash tree and kept Phil Mickelson out of worse trouble than he was in. Another landed behind a Bottle Brush, blocking his path to the 10th green at Riviera. On yet another hole, Mickelson had to thread a 9-iron through the limbs of five eucalyptus trees.

So when he walked into the gallery to find his tee shot on the 15th hole and saw a man flat on his back, Mickelson assumed the worst.

“It wouldn’t be the first time, so I thought for sure I took him out,” Mickelson said Saturday.

Instead, the spectator was being still because the ball was inside the hem of his shorts.

Despite all these adventures, Mickelson managed a 1-under 70 on Saturday to share the lead with PGA champion Keegan Bradley in the Northern Trust Open.

On a day when “routine par” was not part of his vocabulary, Phil was thrilled.

“This was a great round for me, because I did not play well and I shot 1-under par and I’m atop the leaderboard,” he said. “Usually when I win, I’ll have two good rounds and I’ll have two rounds that aren’t so great that I’ve got to keep somewhere in it to give myself a chance.”

The last two days weren’t his best. He still has a great chance to end his West Coast swing with back-to-back wins.

The toughest part might be ahead of him.

Bradley took only five putts over the last five holes, including a 10-footer for par on the last hole that got him into the final group, for a 5-under 66 and his best chance at a win since he captured the PGA Championship in August.

What made the par so meaningful was getting a chance to play with Mickelson, whom he considers a mentor. Mickelson invited Bradley in on one of his money games before The Players Championship, where Mickelson graciously showed him the nuances of the TPC Sawgrass, until they reached the last green and the cash was on the line. Mickelson told Bradley and Brendan Steele to get out their wallets, and then he poured in a putt.

Mickelson and Bradley were at 7-under 206, one shot ahead of Pat Perez (70), Jonathan Byrd (69) and Bryce Molder (66). Mickelson wasn’t the only player on a wild ride along the fabled course off Sunset Boulevard.

Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., was in 38th after shooting a 73, and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., dropped to 61st after carding a 74 to stand at 4-over after three rounds.

Defending champion Aaron Baddeley had a 66, and Dustin Johnson chopped up the end of his round before a birdie on the 18th that gave him a 67.

— The Associated Press