Mickelson hoping for another magical weekend

Mickelson hoping for another magical weekend

Phil Mickelson couldn’t get his putter going on Friday. As a result, he likely will need an even better weekend than the one he produced last year at Augusta National if he wants to successfully defend his Masters title.

Mickelson shot even-par 72 in the second round Friday, leaving him at 2 under for the tournament, well off the lead.

Last year, he was tied for third, two shots off the pace after 36 holes. A pair of 67s on the weekend catapulted him into the Green Jacket. But this year, he has a much larger deficit to make up, and many more warm bodies to climb over.

But don’t worry — he’s not conceding anything just yet.

"These next two days are my favorite two days of the year, the weekend of the Masters," Mickelson said. "There’s nothing better than playing the weekend here at Augusta, and to be a couple under par in a position where a good round in the mid-60s, you can make up a lot of ground out here.

"I was able to do it last year on Saturday, and I’m going to have to make a good run tomorrow, too."

Still, he needs to find his putting stroke. He required 33 putts on Friday, missing several short ones that left him perplexed.

"Today I left a lot of shots out there that were not hard up and downs," Mickelson said. "You know, they were very doable. I missed a few four- or five-footers there, but I expect to get those up and down. I didn’t; I left a lot out there today.

"I can’t afford this weekend to leave those shots out there."

Last week, Mickelson shot 63-65 in the final two rounds to capture the Shell Houston Open. He knows how to produce magic at Augusta National, so expect him to make some noise.

"Fortunately I’m not in that bad a spot where if I can go out and shoot a good round I can get right back in it," he said. "It’s kind of like last week … where I’m in a position, if I can go make a move on Saturday and get right back in it."