Phil Mickelson hasn’t won since the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield, but if there is one place he can remember how it’s Pebble Beach.
The 45-year-old posted a bogey-free 66 at Pebble Beach Golf Links to take a one-stroke lead over Hiroshi Iwata of Japan heading to the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
“I didn’t hit the ball as well as the last two days, but I really fought hard,” said Lefty, who will tie Mark O’Meara with five victories in the tournament if he finishes on top Sunday. “I missed in the right places and was able to get up-and-down for pars. The course played tougher because the greens are getting hard and it was a little windy.
“I really feels good to finally get some good scores out of it and to be in contention on Sunday at Pebble Beach. But I still have a lot of work to do tomorrow.”
Lefty’s last third-round lead was in the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion, won by Justin Rose of England. That’s the only major championship Mickelson has not won.
Iwata shot 69 at Spyglass and was one stroke ahead of Freddie Jacobson of Sweden, who had a 68 at Monterey Peninsula and was tied for third with Sung Kang of South Korea, the second-round leader after a 60 at Monterey Peninsula, who totaled 70 at Pebble.
Jonas Blixt of Sweden recorded a 67 at Spyglass, and was another shot behind in a tie foir fifth with Roberto Castro, who posted a 67 at Monterey Peninsula.
Chez Reavie, the 18-hole leader with a 63 at Monterey Peninsula, came in with a 71 at Spyglass and was five strokes behind in solo seventh.
Second-ranked Jason Day of Australia carded a 68 at Pebble and was one more shot behind in a tie for eighth with Vaughn Taylor and Matt Jones, also of Australia, who both came in at 67 at Monterey Peninsula.
Jordan Spieth, No. 1 in the world, shot 74 at Pebble and made the cut right on the number at 214 in a tie for 54th.
