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Farmers Insurance Open
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 Phil Mickelson, shown after Friday's second round, thinks a low round Sunday could produce his fourth win at Torrey Pines (PHOTO: Mark Susson). The region’s most established (active) player — San Diegan Phil Mickelson — and most promising young player — Murrieta native Rickie Fowler — are among six players tied for fifth at 9-under par, four strokes behind leader Ryuji Imada through 54 holes at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Each took different paths to record a 2-under-par 70 on the South course Saturday. Mickelson’s was characteristically wild and exciting, as he made a double-bogey on the par-4 seventh after failing to identify his tee ball in a tree and then turned the tables with two prodigious swipes and an eagle on the par-5 13th hole. Fowler, on the other hand, engineered a steady effort that included three birdies and one bogey. Mickelson has won the PGA Tour’s annual stop at Torrey Pines three times, and although Fowler doesn’t yet have a win under his belt, he has said he feels comfortable on the South, where he made the cut as an amateur in the 2008 U.S. Open. Four strokes is a lot of ground to make up on the major championship venue, which has yielded an over-par stroke average each day of the tournament thus far. Mickelson isn’t counting himself out. “At least I’m in a position now where a good round tomorrow can get it done,” said the 39-year-old Mickelson, who noted he would consult with swing coach Butch Harmon prior to Sunday’s final round. Imada, the 2008 AT&T Classic champion who has only had one other 54-hole lead in his career, is at 13-under par after shooting a 2-under 70. “The score looks pretty solid, but it was a struggle out there,” he said. “I struggled with my driver today — it took me nine holes to hit my first fairway today. I battled it out with a lot of good short game.” What also helped the Hiroshima, Japan native’s cause was a long birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole he wasn’t necessarily planning on making. But that conversion gives him a two-stroke lead to sleep on as opposed to one. Trailing Imada at 11-under are two-time PGA Tour winner Ben Crane and Michael Sim, the reigning Nationwide Tour Player of the Year. Also lurking is 2009 U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover in fourth place at 10-under. D.A. Points, the co-leader after two rounds, struggled with a 74 and slid down to fifth place along with Mickelson, Fowler, Brandt Snedeker, seven-time Tour winner K.J. Choi and Matt Every. There are plenty of solid names in contention, but Imada has a solid track record at Torrey Pines — he hasn’t missed the cut in five previous appearances and has finished inside the top 20 in each of the last three years, including a runner-up finish in 2008. That year, he wound up eight shots behind Tiger Woods. “If he was here, I’m sure he’d be 10 ahead of me,” said Imada. Here’s how other notable Southern Californians have fared through 54 holes: • Torrance native Chris Tidland, who began the third round tied for fifth at 8-under, slid 20 spots down the leaderboard into a logjam at 5-under after a 3-over-par 75. A similar fate befell Murrieta resident Tom Pernice Jr., whose 2-over-74 also saw him fall to 25th place. Also in 25th place is Orange native Hunter Mahan, who shot even-par Saturday. • North Hills resident Charlie Wi is in a tie for 17th at 6-under after posting a 1-over-par 73. • First-round leader Scott Piercy again failed to break par on the South course. After following up his opening 8-under 64 on the North with a 3-over 75 on the South Friday, the former San Diego State University men’s golfer shot a 1-over 73 Saturday and is tied for 36th at 4-under par. For a complete leaderboard, visit PGATour.com. Check back throughout the week for more coverage of the Farmers Insurance Open. ALSO SEE: Grooves, Daly overshadow second round of Farmers Insurance Open Piercy shoots 64 in first round to lead Farmers Insurance Open 5 who could win Farmers Insurance Open besides Mickelson Fast facts on Farmers Insurance Open |
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