AUGUSTA, Georgia |
AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - The inspired charge that carried Phil Mickelson to victory at last year's Masters failed to materialize Saturday as the big left-hander's hopes of repeating as champion faded at Augusta National.
Mickelson could not get the putts to fall in the third round and posted a one-under-par 71 that put him on three under par, nine behind leader Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland.
"It's been a little frustrating on the greens," said Mickelson, who came to Augusta with high hopes after winning last week's U.S. tour stop.
"I putted so well last week at Houston, I expected to come out this week and kind of light it up," he told reporters.
Last year Mickelson came alive after two ordinary rounds with a pair of 67s that lifted him to his third green jacket.
At first, it looked like there might be more Masters magic for Mickelson after birdies at the second and third holes.
From that point, however, the world number three squandered a slew of opportunities and never got rolling.
"I have struggled getting the right reads, I struggled getting the right speed," he said about his work on the greens. "I just have struggled getting it going this week.
"I felt like it was right there today. I felt like there was an opportunity to do it today. But I didn't capitalize on some of the crucial holes."
At the 11th he failed to get up and down from an easy chip, he three-putted for par after reaching the par-five fifth in two, and could not birdie 14 or 17 despite hitting wedges in.
Despite those disappointments, Mickelson said he enjoyed the day, cheered on by his wife Amy and nine-year-old daughter Sophia.
"I loved every minute today even though the round wasn't going the way I wanted to," he said. "I loved every minute of the walk."
Mickelson's victory celebration at the 18th last year peaked with an emotional embrace with his wife, who was attending her first tournament since being diagnosed with breast cancer.
"It's great to have Amy back and we were talking about it yesterday that this was really a big step for us because as we look back day to day, you don't notice the progress that you make," he said.
"And here we are, a year and a half, almost two years, in and we're getting back to doing the things we normally do, which is really a good sign. It was a nice stepping stone for us."
(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)
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