Sports

Golf

The 19th hole

By BOB HARIG
Published August 14, 2005

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BIRDIES

Thomas Bjorn matched a major-championship record with 63 and put himself in contention, one stroke behind leaders Phil Mickelson and Davis Love.

Davis Love shot his third straight 68, giving him a shot at his second PGA title.

Ben Curtis is lurking, just as he did two years ago at the British Open, three back after 67.

BOGEYS

With most of the contenders under par Saturday, Phil Mickelson shot 72 to give a lot of players a chance today.

Tiger Woods was kicking himself, despite 66. Pars at the last two holes, two easily birdied par 5s, left him six behind instead of four back.

Vijay Singh made just one birdie and could have been leading had he made a few putts.

DIVOTS

SIR CHARLES: Outspoken Charles Barkley has been at Baltusrol, ostensibly as part of TNT's coverage. But he has spent more time off the air than on and visited the media center, holding court on several topics, including Phil Mickelson: "Phil Mickelson is the most talented guy I've seen in my life that I've played golf with. It'll be interesting to see how he holds up as hot as it is out there. Phil's so good he just has to get out of his own way. It would really be scary if Phil were to work out as hard as Tiger and Vijay. I would love to see that combination."

NAME GAME: Baltusrol Golf Club, designed in its current state in 1922, dates to the late 1800s. And it was named after Baltus Roll. According to the club's history, Roll was a New Jersey farmer who was murdered after a robbery attempt.

QUOTE

"Probably the biggest thing is just playing in the last group knowing what guys are doing in front of me, what I have to do, and hopefully doing it."

- Phil Mickelson.

STAT OF THE DAY

Vijay Singh made 17 straight pars before birdie at the 18th hole.

HOLE OF THE DAY

No. 18

Par 5, 554 yards

The easiest hole on the course for the week was not the easiest for the two players leading the tournament. Phil Mickelson and Davis Love failed to birdie the hole on which more than half the field was in red numbers Saturday. In fact, the next nine players on the leaderboard birdied 18, meaning Mickelson and/or Love missed an opportunity for some breathing room. Tiger Woods failed to birdie the 18th, three-putting from 25 feet.

[Last modified August 14, 2005, 00:54:16]

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