Mickelson forges ahead
Padraig Harrington’s hopes of overtaking leader Phil Mickelson and capturing the Nissan Open appeared to have been blown at the midway point of the final round in California.
Harrington had started the final round one shot behind the American but the Irishman fell away to go on to 11 under.
Mickelson was on 15 under, one stroke ahead of Ernie Els with Robert Allenby on 13 under and Charles Howell and Rich Beem three strokes behind on 12 under.
It did not take long for Mickelson to build a lead and made a birdie on the first two holes for the second consecutive day – Mickelson has made a birdie on the first hole all four rounds of the tournament.
He added another birdie on the fifth hole when he hit his approach shot to within four feet to pad his lead to three.
Mickelson though made a bogey on the ninth hole when he was short on his approach and then he chunked his chip and failed to make the 78-foot putt.
Els cut the deficit to one when he made an incredible flop shot off the left side of the 10th green to tap in from distance.
Mickelson is attempting to win his second consecutive tournament after winning the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am last week.
