``Somebody is going to need to shoot a 62 or 63 to catch him unless he falters,'' the 25-year-old said. ``I don't see him faltering at all.''

Mickelson seemed pleased with his even-par 72 Saturday because he said the course was playing tough. He seemed anxious to get on the putting green in hopes of regaining a lost putting touch.

``When you get to the par 5s, you need to birdie those holes,'' Mickelson said.

Mickelson shot a 1-over-par 37 on the front nine and a 2-under 37 on the back nine. He was disappointed with himself for the way he played No. 13 and No. 15, both par-5 holes.

``I hit a 7-iron into 13 and came up short,'' Mickelson said. ``Hit a good chip to 4 or 5 feet and missed it. And 15, I had a 6-iron in from 191, and I thought I needed to hit it really good because the wind was coming into me. And I just `pured' it. I was posing, and it was just really disappointing to see that thing fly over the green. It just flew over.''

Mickelson still has some hope, such as the resurrection of his opening-round 65, where he shot 30 on the back nine.

``The first six holes are the toughest holes on the golf course,'' Mickelson said. ``That's my mind set right now - to play the first six holes aggressively and somewhere under par.''

This is Mickelson's second straight year in contention. Last year, he opened with 66 and finished with three plus-70 scores and a tie for seventh.