Mickelson gets last laugh at the 15th, eyes No. 1 potential

NORTON, Mass. -- A year ago, Phil Mickelson struck an approach shot toward the 15th green that hit the flag stick and ricocheted off the green. So when Mickelson faced the same shot -- with the same pin placement -- in Sunday's third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship, he turned to caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay and said he was going to try to just miss the pin this time.

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It was supposed to be a joke. But then it wasn't.

Mickelson's approach shot again struck the flag stick and ended up in the same place as a year ago -- in the rough in between the front of the green and the bunker that wraps around the left side.

Mickelson couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that the golf gods had played the same trick on him.

But as he stood over his third shot on the par-4 hole, he vowed to have a different outcome than the par he made a year ago.

"I kind of turned to (Mackay) and said, 'Screw it, I'm going to make this,'" Mickelson said. "'Stuff happens. I'm going to knock this one in.'

"And I'll be darned if that ball didn't go in."

Mickelson called it a "fun little moment" en route to a 4-under 67 that left him at 12 under, in a tie for sixth, five shots back of third-round leader Jason Day.

Mickelson now has three consecutive rounds in the 60s for the first time since mid-February at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

While he actually lost a stroke to the leader Sunday, Mickelson feels good about the state of his game, especially since he was coming off a missed cut at The Barclays, prompting him to spend a few days with coach Butch Harmon at the Callaway test center in California.

Although Mickelson didn't take advantage of the ideal scoring conditions in the first round as he would have liked -- he shot a 2-under 69, higher than the field stroke average of 68.03 that day -- he feels dialed in now.

"I thought I was really ready and sharp," Mickelson said, "and then (the first) round came and I just kind of plodded along and didn't really get it going. But the last two days have been better, and I'm looking forward to a fun day tomorrow."

Mickelson has had several chances this season to take over the No. 1 spot from Tiger Woods in the Official World Golf Ranking. Each time he has failed to take advantage of the opportunity.

His playing partner Sunday, Steve Marino, thinks Mickelson is already there, even if the rankings reflect otherwise.

"I think he probably is the No. 1 player in the world," Marino said.

But now Mickelson's as close as he's ever been.

With Woods tied for 23rd after shooting a 2-under 69 on Sunday, he's 10 shots back of the lead. If Tiger finishes outside the top 24, Mickelson could take over No. 1 if he can finish solo fourth or better (depending, though, on what Steve Stricker does).

If Tiger finishes outside the top nine, Mickelson would need a third-place finish. If Tiger's outside the top 3, Mickelson could still take over with a second-place finish. And no matter what Tiger does, Mickelson would be No. 1 with a win.

"I haven't paid attention this week," Mickelson replied when asked about the scenarios. "After missing the cut (last week), that was the last thing on my mind. So I haven't paid attention to what needs to happen.

"But I'm looking forward to getting in the hunt tomorrow and seeing if I can get off to a good start and make some birdies and move up that leaderboard."

Of course, the best scenario would be to win. Then there would be no question who deserves top billing in the world

"Play like you deserve it," Mickelson said. "That's the goal."