LEFTY’S TIME? Phil Mickelson, looking on from the fifth tee yesterday, leads heading into today’s final round of the U.S. Open. (Getty Images)
LEFTY’S TIME? Phil Mickelson, looking on from the fifth tee yesterday, leads heading into today’s final round of the U.S. Open. (Getty Images)
ARDMORE, Pa. — It’s time.
It’s time for Phil Mickelson.
It’s time for Steve Stricker.
It’s time for Luke Donald and Justin Rose and Hunter Mahan.
Scan the first page of the 113th U.S. Open leaderboard at venerable Merion Golf Club and you will find a group of players who believe this is their time to win the damned thing.
Start with Mickelson, who has a deeper love-hate relationship with the tournament than perhaps anyone who ever has teed it up in America’s national championship. You can make an argument the U.S. Open owes Mickelson a win after his litany of close calls over the years.
Mickelson takes a one-shot lead into today’s final round after shooting an even-par 70 in the third round. He is 1-under par and has had at least a share of the lead after every round.
Stricker (70), Mahan (69) and 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (69) are at even-par, trailing Mickelson by one shot.
Billy Horschel, who began the day with a share of the lead with Mickelson, is two shots back at 1-over par after shooting 72. So too are Donald (71) and Rose (71), who are each vying to become the first Englishman to win the U.S. Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970.
Mickelson, who has made it clear his entire career the U.S. Open is his most coveted major despite winning the Masters three times, has finished runner-up a record five times.
He led after the first round with that 3-under 67 following a red-eye flight from his daughter’s eighth grade graduation in California and had a share of the lead at 1-under entering yesterday’s third round.
Mickelson, who turns 43 today, is more ready to win his favorite major than he ever has been.
“It’s got the makings to be something special, but I still have to go out and perform and play some of the best golf I’ve ever played,’’ Mickelson said. “This is a lot of fun. … Let’s go. I can’t wait to get back out playing. I love being in the thick of it. I’ve had opportunities in years past. It’s been fun, even though I’ve had some heartbreak.
“But I feel better equipped than I have ever felt to do this. I think it’s going to take going under par. I don’t know what that number that is, but I do believe I’ve got it in me to go under par.’’
Donald held the No. 1 world ranking for a 56-week span from 2011-12, but never got true respect as the top player in the world because he never has won a major.
This is Donald’s 39th major championship. He has had some moderately close calls, but never has closed the deal. He damaged his chances with bogeys on 17 and 18 to close his round.
“I’ve won a decent amount of tournaments around the world, but I’d dearly love to win a major,’’ Donald said.
Stricker is playing in his 59th career major and has built his reputation on being one of the game’s best putters and nicest guys. He also has had a couple of close calls in majors, but never has nailed one down.
If Stricker, 46, were to win, he would be the oldest player to win a U.S. Open, surpassing Hale Irwin, who was 45 when he won in 1990 at Medinah.
Mahan, playing in his 30th major, had close calls at the 2010 Masters (T-8), 2009 U.S. Open (T-6) and 2007 British Open (T-6), but never has taken the step to the next level he would reach with a win today.
Rose is without a win in 37 prior major championships despite hanging around as one a top-tier talent.
“I feel like I’m in great position,’’ Rose said. “If you would have told me Thursday morning, ‘Hey, this is where you are going to be entering Sunday,’ I would absolutely have taken it.”
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com