LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Phil Mickelson has been telling anyone who will listen that he felt his game is close.
Mickelson was right, and now he’s close to the lead in the PGA Championship at Valhalla after carding a second-round 67 to climb up the leaderboard to 6-under par entering the weekend. He’s three shots behind leader Rory McIlroy.
“It was a long day, but for me it was a good day,’’ Mickelson said. “I fought hard. I didn’t get off to the greatest start, but was patient with the round and it came to me a little bit there in the middle. To shoot 4‑-under puts me in good position for the weekend.
“Obviously, Rory is playing great golf. There’s a lot of guys at 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-under par right there. Out of that group somebody is going to get hot. I think that I have a hot round in me, too.’’
Mickelson’s game heated up last Sunday in the final round of the Bridgestone, when he had 10 birdies en route to a 62. He shot a solid 2-under-par 69 in the opening round and bettered it Friday, climaxed by an eagle on the 18th hole to close out the day.
“A great way to finish,’’ he said. “I was hoping to at least make birdie there and get to 5-under, get to within four shots. That eagle was a bonus. After a long day, it was a really nice way to finish.’’
Mickelson made some big putts to keep his round going, including a huge par-save bomb on 16.
“Those are big momentum putts, especially the one on 16 where it’s for par after I just made bogey, hit a poor chip shot and having that putt go in was a big momentum boost for me and it got me to play the last two holes hard,’’ he said. “I fought hard to make par on 17 and ended up finishing with an eagle, as opposed to letting the round slide and not really making a strong finish.
“Those par puts are critical. I started to make a lot of putts last week. The putter is starting to feel good again. It feels like I’m rolling the ball well again. A lot of them have gone in.’’
Mickelson said he is re-energized after seeing his game sag for most of the year, a season in which he still does not have a top-10 finish.
“It’s fun to be back in it, to have a chance, to feel like my game is there and to not show up at the golf course hoping that I find something to work with,’’ he said. “That’s been a challenge. But right now, I feel like when I show up I know what I’m trying to do, I’m just picking up the touch and feel and I’m fairly confident starting the round. It’s been a good first two rounds so far.’’