Ailing Mickelson in confident mood
by Richard Field, 11 May 2008
Defending champion Phil Mickelson finds himself in the hunt at The Players Championship despite feeling under the weather.
The world number two hit a one-under 71 to trail third round leader Paul Goydos by five shots at TPC Sawgrass.
Mickelson felt sick during Friday’s round and the American has taken some antibiotics for a sore throat, but he will not be throwing the towel in.
"Today [Saturday] it could have very easily been 67 or 68 and I let it slide to 71," Mickelson said.
"Tomorrow, I need to shoot something in the mid-to-high 60s to have a chance.
"Hopefully we'll be able to put together the score that I need. I'm playing well enough to shoot that round."
Lefty switched to the putter that he won the title with last year for the penultimate round, and he is relieved that he will not be chasing a certain individual on the final day.
"When Tiger [Woods] is playing, you feel like you've got to make birdies to catch him."