Phil Mickelson Moves Up on Saturday, Goes for Burgers.

Kathy Bissell

Phil Mickelson, teeing off four and a half hours before leader Lee Westwood, posted a with 31 on the front and 34 on the back to vault into contention at The Players.  And just as he had predicted, those who played early had a better scoring opportunity with softer greens.

He said after the second round that the course was changing a lot from the morning to the afternoon. “ The guys that are two, three, four under par are in the tournament,” he predicted.  “If  they shoot six, seven eight under par, theyre going to mre right up the leaderboard.  It’s going to be very difficult for the leaders to pull way in the afternoon.”

With the leaders through ten holes, Mickelson’s prediction has come true.

After his third round, he was off to Five Guys Burgers. 

“That place is so good.  I can’t stop going there.  This will be my sixth day in a row,” he said. I grew up on In-n- Out ( burgers). I thought that was the best burger until I had Five Guys.  That is hands down the best burger I’ve ever had.”

Tim Clark also carded 66 as did Fred Funk.  Clark moved into a tie for third half as the leaders made the turn.  Funk finished before the leaders teed off and was in a tie for 14^th.