Watney vs. Mickelson in the WGC-CA Final Round

Phil Mickelson is no longer leading the field in the 11th rendition of the World Golf Championship-CA. He has never won at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa. Having never won one of these WGCs since they started in 1999 with three editions each year this one too may be slipping away from his grasp.

His two-stroke lead evaporated on Saturday and he is tied for the lead with Nick Watney at 16-under par after the first three rounds.

It looks like it may be a two-golfer race, with the other golfer, Nick Watney, outplaying Mickelson face-to-face in the third round. The 54-hole leader has gone on to win this event seven of the previous 10 times.

The question is which 54-hole co-leader will it be: Watney or Mickelson? It will be interesting to see how it plays out on NBC Sports come Sunday afternoon.

Mickelson shot 69 and apparently that was what he was hoping for going into the round. “I would have taken a 69 at start of the day, because it was tougher and windier; but midway through the rounds, I had opportunities to make that round a low round, and a couple putts didn't fall.”

Wisdom is being employed as Phil approaches Sunday’s concluding round keeping one eye on Watney and the other on the rest of the field.

“We've seen a lot of guys shoot seven, eight-under par; it's out there today. Guys that are three or four shots back, if they shoot that, they can get right back into contention.

"So Nick and I need to play well to separate ourselves from the rest of the field, and if we are able to do that, it could turn into a match-play situation. But right now, I don't think we can approach it like that.”

Phil’s five-iron on the 235-yard par-three 13th hole nearly went in the hole for an ace and stopped a foot-and-a-half from the hole for an easy deuce. How would an ace have impacted Phil’s round?

“It probably would not have changed much except I would be a shot in the lead now.” The 38 year-old golfing icon is focused on performance as he hopes to make this WGC the first of its kind for his career and No. 36 overall.

The demeanor between Mickelson and Watney was easy-going with occasional chit-chat as they played the third round and distanced themselves from the field. But all bets are off if there is an edge to be found to gain an advantage and win this championship.

“I would expect that he and I would be able to separate competition from personal relationship and be able to converse throughout the round and have a good time, as well as compete against each other. But if that helped him in any way, then I will probably stop it tomorrow.”

Mickelson acknowledges the new group of young players coming up like 19-year old Rory McIlroy, 26 year-old Alvaro Quiros, and 28-year old co-leader Nick Watney. What are he, Tiger, and Vijay to do about it?

“We are trying to hold these guys off, but it's just a matter of time before they start to overtake a lot of us.” Hopefully, for Phil’s sake not as soon as tomorrow.

Watney’s 67 was impressive given the windy conditions and the hard and fast condition of the golf course, especially the putting greens. His run came early in the round where he birdied three holes in a ro­w- Nos. 2, 3, and 4, whereas Phil’s run was later on holes Nos. 12, 13, and 14.

When Mickelson almost aced the 13th, Watney stayed competitive and secured the joint first place all the way to the clubhouse. “I made a really nice up-and-in from the left trap (on 13).

"I thought that I really needed to keep him in touch, keep him as close as I could, because he was having a nice little run there, and I wasn't making any birdies. So that was big for me.”

Is Watney thinking about winning? Absolutely. “I would love to get my hands on that trophy. That's why I'm playing.” He has a similar approach to the Sunday competition as Phil.

“I think at some point, it will turn into—if we stay out ahead, I think it will turn into a one-on-one situation. Maybe three or four holes to go, and we're tied and we're four shots clear, I think then it will turn into a bit of a match-play thing."

There is no awe-factor for Nick Watney.

Camilo Villegas shot 69 and is joint third four strokes back with Jeev Milka Singh. Camilo’s brother Manuel also shot a 69 Saturday in the third round of the Puerto Rico Open, the PGA TOUR event opposite the WGC-CA Championship.

“He's got to be a little bit more positive and forget about the negative things that are out there. He's working really hard and doing a better and better job every day. I'm excited for him.”

Camilo and Jeev’s advantage is that they are playing directly in front of the final Mickelson-Watney twosome. Any spectacular play will be obvious to the leaders. Plus Villegas is a local fan favorite and if a number can be posted then it will be advantageous to watch them play the difficult 18th hole to perhaps force a playoff.

”It's a golf course where you can make a lot of birdies. The greens are rolling very good and then you've got a very tough finishing hole where everything can happen.”

Singh’s 68 included two eagles, three birdies, and three bogeys—an up-and-down but explosive round. Jeev is focused on first place, too.

“I've won on most of the tours in the world, and I think I would like to win here, too. That would be perfect. That would be the icing on the cake. That's what we work hard for. That's what I want to do one day. I've won in Europe, I've won in Asia, I've won in Japan, and I'd like to win here, too.”

The fivesome tied for fifth, five strokes back, includes Charley Hoffman, Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark), Jim Furyk, Alvaro Quiros (Spain), and Kenny Perry.

Hoffman shot 67and knows he needs help to win at Doral on Sunday. “I'm making the putts I need to. Last year I didn't make the 10-footers for par that you need to make to keep your round going, and sort of hold on coming down the stretch.

Hopefully I can have a chance with a few holes to play, but I need some help from the leaders.”

Seasoned tour veteran Jim Furyk shot 69 and knows how to win at Doral having won the 2000 Doral-Ryder Open shooting 23-under par to do so. He would love a WGC title to go along with his 2003 U.S. Open victory.

“I wanted to make up some ground and give myself a chance tomorrow, and I did a pretty good job. There's a couple of guys that are separating themselves, so wait and see how they finish up.”

The young Spaniard Quiros shot 69 though had it five-under through 12 holes but bogeyed 15 and 17 coming in. He is playing in his first stroke-play tournament in America having been defeated in the first round of the WGC- Accenture Match Play two weeks ago.

“I was enjoying it yes at the start but things did look like they were getting a little bit desperate after I made the bogey at the short hole and then missed a birdie chance at the next too, the 16th. But it is like it is. I am happy to be in the position I am but it could be better.”

While Kjeldsen shot 69 and Perry shot 71, Soren Hanson (Denmark) shot an eight-under 64 which included eagles on the par-5 Nos. 10 and 12. His position jumped from T52 to T13 only seven strokes back of the Mickelson and Watney.

The Dane recorded six threes in a row on hole Nos. 10 thru 15 and a total of nine of them on the scorecard. “Well, it never really crossed my mind, because you make two eagles, you throw a few birdies in there, as well, (and) a couple of par 3s. Checking my scorecard walking off the 18th green, I thought, that's a lot of 3s.”

With 64s to be had even on tough days at Doral maybe it is not a two-golfer race? If a 64 comes out-of-the pack and is posted as the wind picks up on the Blue Monster then who knows who walks away with a blue WGC trophy that Phil Mickelson has yet to win?