DORAL, Fla. — For about half the day, the WGC-Cadillac Championship was all about Phil Mickelson. He carded a front-nine 32 that was highlighted by four consecutive birdies on Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8, and he made the turn at 9-under with a two-shot lead.
But Mickelson’s back nine did not match his front, as he struggled to a 4-over 40 with a double bogey from the water on the par-3 15th as the lowlight.
Mickelson didn’t play himself out of the tournament. He’s still 5-under, five shots out of the lead held by Adam Scott. It’s just that, instead of taking the lead into the weekend, he now has made his job a lot more difficult.
“I don’t know what happened,” Mickelson said. “I kind of lost focus the back nine. I just had a hard time focusing. I’m looking forward to the weekend. I’m playing really, really well.”
Mickelson’s back nine began to derail when he missed short birdie putts on Nos. 11 and 12. That was followed by a three-putt on No. 13. This occurred after he had been putting flawlessly on the front nine.
“Sometimes I just lose focus,’’ Mickelson said. “I’ve been out [practicing] a little early. I kind of overdid it maybe and got a little tired in the end and just lost my train of thought. I hit a lot of good shots, even without it. I’m driving the ball really well. I’m hitting a lot of good iron shots. And I’m putting well. So it’s going to be a good weekend, because this is the best I’ve played in a long time, and the results will come if I’m patient. I just need to settle down and let it happen, because this is the best I’ve played in a long time.”
The “Big Three” pairing of Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy has been somewhat of a disappointment — aside from McIlroy, who shot 65. Spieth is 3-under after shooting 72 on Friday and Day is 2-over after shooting 74.
Quietly, Bubba Watson is very much in contention at 6-under par after a pair of 69s. He said after his round that his “consistency” is what has encouraged him most about the way he’s playing.
“That’s what I’m trying to get better at,” he said. “Slowing it, down, trying to slow down my walk. Sometimes when I start I get a little anxious.”
