AUGUSTA — Phil Mickelson played his way into contention at the Masters.
Tiger Woods nearly played his way out of it.
Two of the Masters pre-tournament favorites moved in opposite directions Friday with very different second rounds. Mickelson shot a 68 to move to 2 under par, three strokes behind co-leaders Fred Couples and Jason Dufner. Woods shot a 75 to fall to 3 over par, two strokes inside the cut line.
Saturday is crucial for both golfers.
“I feel like Saturday is the day you can really make a move,” Mickelson said. “Sunday you kind of cherish the back nine and it’s exciting, but I feel like Saturday is the day you have got to play well to get yourself in position.”
Despite his victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago, Woods has struggled with his swing this week. His frustration level reached a high point when he dropped his 9-iron and kicked at it after a wayward tee shot on No. 16.
“The tournament is not over,” Woods said. “Last year I think going into the final round I made up seven shots [in a tie for fourth]. ... I just have to cut that deficit down tomorrow with a good solid round and then get off to a quick start on the front nine on Sunday and see where that puts me.”
Mickelson had six second-round birdies, including on the 18th hole, which gave many golfers fits. He made a 12-foot putt on the 17th to keep the round going in the right direction after driving his ball into the trees. Being able to escape the potential trouble by putting his second shot in the right spot was a key for Mickelson all day. He hit nine of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens in regulation.
“The biggest thing for me was strategically I didn’t miss the ball in the wrong spot,” Mickelson said. “If I got into some trouble or hit some poor shots, they are on the proper side where I could still get up and down and let my short game salvage strokes, which I did fairly well.”
It was a much more frustrating day for Woods. He hit only eight of 14 fairways and seven of 18 greens in regulation. He had to take an unplayable lie at the par-5 13th when his second shot lodged into the bank fronting the green. He pushed a 4-iron well right of the green trying to reach the par-5 15th in two. He managed to save par, but lost a chance at a birdie. His frustration boiled over with his wayward tee shot on the par-3 16th. He wasn’t able to save par, his third bogey of the day. It ended a streak of 11 consecutive rounds of par or better.
Mickelson and Woods enter Saturday’s third round in different places.
Mickelson tees off at 1:45 p.m., paired with Vijay Singh, with six groups playing behind them.
“Are you kidding me? After [Thursday’s] round I love it,” Mickelson said of his position. “To be only three back with 36 [holes] to go, there’s a lot of time left and there’s a lot of birdies out there and I get to slide off before the leaders. If I make a move, they get to see those numbers being posted ahead of them, and that’s not always easy.”
Woods will tee off at 10:45 a.m., paired with defending champion Charl Schwartzel, with only nine groups ahead of them.
“I know what to do, it’s just a matter of doing it,” Woods said of his inconsistent swing. “That’s the frustrating part. I’m still creeping into my old tendencies. I just have to stay patient with it and keep doing the reps and eventually it will become second nature.”
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