Frank Lickliter

Circus Saturday Sets Up
Super Sunday at Phoenix Open

By Shannon Gazze,
Staff Writer

Seventeen players find themselves within five shots of leader Frank Lickliter after a raucous Moving Day that lacked a gunman but did have a helicopter and, according to some reports, a bird of a different feather.

David Duval

“There were a couple of things that I was certainly disappointed in hearing,” said Phil Mickelson, who stormed back into contention with a 65 that left him one shot out of the lead and in the final grouping Sunday.

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The helicopter that paid a visit to the TPC Stadium Course on Saturday landed on the 18th fairway, near the site of an accident involving a toddler. The boy reportedly fell about eight or nine feet from one of the raised corporate platforms along the course. He was air-lifted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, but no serious injuries were reported.

Almost lost in all the excitement was a roller coaster day of golf. Second round leader Tom Lehman birdied the par-4 first hole before struggling to a +2 for the day. He is tied for fourth along with Paul Stankowski, Steve Flesch and Hal Sutton at -10.

Robert Allenby fired a 68 to land alone in third (-11) and will join Lickliter and Mickelson in the final grouping.

Phil Mickelson

“I have always been an underdog kind of guy,” he said, “so I kind of like that position.”

“I need to play well the first 12 or 13 holes for (the hometown crowd) to really be felt,” Mickelson said. “The gallery really doesn’t come into play until the last five or six holes.”

Defending champion Rocco Mediate heads a group of three at -9 and Two-time champ Mark Calcavecchia is one of seven golfers at -8.

In one sentence, Stankowski captured the feelings of the two dozen or so golfers within striking distance of Lickliter’s –13.

“It’s just good to have a shot at having a shot,” he said.

Notes: Cut Falls Early Saturday

As expected, the cut came at even par after 21 players finished their second rounds Saturday morning. Valley residents Andrew Magee and Jerry Smith finished on the line and slipped through to today’s third round.

Sergio Garcia

Twelve more eagles were recorded by the field Saturday, with seven of those coming on the par-5 15th. The statistic is particularly impressive because the field was smaller Saturday by more than 50 golfers. . . .

John Daly took a hit Saturday in the form of a 76 that brought him back to even par for the tournament. Daly is still averaging well over 300 yards per measured drive. . . .

Mickelson eagled No. 15, but his best shot of the day came on a hole he bogeyed. After chipping out of a hazard into a sand trap on the par-3 12th – the only play he could make – Mickelson locked onto the pin with his bunker shot and tapped in a two-footer for a four.