Phil Mickelson carded a seven-under 65 to move into contention after a lengthy Sunday at the $5-million PGA BellSouth Classic, which finally saw the weather take a turn for the better.
Mickelson is tied with Billy Mayfair (71) and two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal (69).
The trio is stalking American Scott McCarron, who shot his second straight 69 and is looking for his third victory in Atlanta, having won in 1997 and 2001.
With an extra hour of daylight, just 33 players were left on the course. They will complete their second rounds beginning Monday morning. Following the cut, the third round will begin on the first and 10th tees.
The defending Masters champion, Mickelson is four days away from beginning defence of his first major title. Incessant rain postponements prevented the first round from being completed until Sunday morning, and Mickelson closed out a two-over 74.
The left-handed American birdied three of the first four holes of his second round and carried the momentum throughout the rest of the day, moving to five-under 139 and within one shot of McCarron.
”After that first round of 74 and two-over with this tournament being only 54 holes, I knew I needed to do something,” Mickelson said. ”I was fortunate to be able to do it and at least have a chance going into tomorrow.”
Mickelson has had a phenomenal season thus far, winning twice and losing a duel with Tiger Woods at Doral.
But his preparation for the season’s first major began before this event.
”I haven’t thought about The Masters yet,” he said. ”I thought about it the last week and the week before when I was there scouting the course.”
The winds died down from Saturday, when putts were being blown off course and going low was nearly impossible.
With conditions a bit more playable on Sunday, Mickelson took advantage with five birdies and an eagle at the par-four 13th hole, where he chipped in from 26 yards.
”After having played it now in that wind, and having the same direction of wind, it’s a lot easier because you know club selection, where the ball is going to land, what you’re going to have in [to the hole], what holes are birdie holes and how to attack it,” Mickelson said.
Said McCarron: ”I look forward to coming here. It’s certainly a golf course I enjoy coming to and it’s a tournament that I’ve really grown to love.”
There are another 17 golfers within four shots of the lead, including defending US Open champion Retief Goosen (69).
This is the eighth of 14 PGA events this year to be plagued by at least one weather delay. Three days of rain delays caused last week’s Players Championship to be completed on Monday. — Sapa-AFP