The Champions Tour needs an injection of new blood and Phil Mickelson is providing the transfusion at the Schwab Series.
Lefty followed up his opening 61 with a 64 on Tuesday as he marches to what should be a victory on Wednesday afternoon at Big Cedar Lodge.
Mickelson has found Ozarks National to be right in his wheelhouse. He went out in the second round and made five birdies before the turn. He cooled off a bit on the back nine with a bogey at the 10th but bounced back with three more birdies on his way to a seven-under par round of 64. He’s 17-under and will take a four-shot lead into this afternoon’s final round. That 125 total is the second-lowest 36-hole score in Champion’s history, just a shot shy of Bruce Fleisher’s 124 at the 2020 RJR Championship.
Mickelson has been averaging 340 yards off the tee and has been blowing it 30-40 by his playing partners. He also credited putting instructor Derek Uyeda. He started working with Uyeda and said he has “started getting a lot of feedback on how I want the stroke to be.” Mickelson has putted better this week than he has in a long time. “When I get on the course, my feels start to equate and do what I’ve been expecting,” he said. “I’ve been putting really well.”
Lefty is looking to become 20th player to win in his senior debut. He’s four shots in front of Rod Pampling (64-65) and Tim Petrovic (64-65).
Tee times were moved up today to beat the threat of last afternoon thunderstorms.
TV Coverage: Golf Channel, 1 p.m. Eastern Time.
