Mickelson Two Rounds Shy Of Fifth Pebble Beach Pro-Am Crown & A 50th Career Win

Spyglass Hill GC ……..

Phil Mickelson continued to set-up a possible 50th pro career victory moving into a share of the lead through two rounds of the storm-affected AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

The 48-year old added a four-under par 68 at the Spyglass Hills course, and one of three host venues, to his opening 65 at Monterey Peninsula to move to 10-under par.

Mickelson shares the lead in the $US 7.6m event with fellow Americans Lucas Glover (66), Scott Langley (69) and England’s Paul Casey (64).

Four-time Major winning, Jordan Spieth and also winner of this week’s event in 2017, had moved to 10-under par through 16 holes when play was suspended for the day due to very heavy rain.

Spieth is among 44 players who will recommence their second rounds, weather-permitting early on Saturday.

Mickelson, and a four-time winner of the event, raced to six-under par for his round with six birdies in 14 holes before dropping three shots in succession from the 15th ahead of a birdie at the last.

“It was nice to birdie the last but I hate finishing the round off like that and making three bogeys after having a pretty good round going in,” he said.

“And it just, but I guess to make one on the last, that was a long, tough hard hole that’s usually a driver, eight or 9-iron, and I had to whistle a 4-iron in after a good drive. I

“It was just a little bit more difficult conditions today, so I’m also lucky to get done now and get the round over with and have, guys unfortunately are still out there playing in some tough stuff.

Mickelson won the AT & T Pro-Am in 1998 and then again in 2005, 2007 and for fourth occasion in 2012.

‘Lefty’, as he is more-affectionately known, has captured 49 wins around the world including 43 on the PGA Tour and with the last being his success nearly a year ago in the WGC – Mexico Championship.

Though what would please Mickelson more than anything is to reign supreme in some four months, when the U.S. Open returns to Pebble Beach and with

Mickelson still needing to capture a first U.S. Open to join just five other players, including long-time arch-rival Tiger Woods as a member of golf’s most-exclusive club – ‘The Grand Slam Club’

Casey, 41 and chasing a third PGA Tour triumph, cut a swath through the field jumping nearly 30 spots and into a tie for the lead at 10-under par thanks his score of 64 at the Monterey Peninsula course.

The Phoenix-based Brit completed his outward half sandwiching a seventh-hole eagle among four birdies from his third to ninth holes.

Casey then posted a 15th hole birdie among eight homeward pars and managing to complete his day moments before a siren sounded to halt play.

“I played a great round of golf and I’m so happy to get done,” he said.

“We were on the last hole and I heard that horn go. And then there was a second one and then a third one which means, and I had to think for a minute, because you get one long blast, you’re done.

“But the three blasts means it’s bad conditions, but you can finish the hole and I’m like we can finish the hole? I’ve never been so happy.

“I went from upset to happy in an instant. So, it was all good.”

Speith, and looking for a first victory since capturing the 2017 (British) Open Championship, ignited his round with five birdies in his opening seven holes and then posted nine straight pars before his day was halted at his 17th hole at Spyglass Hills.

 



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