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Golden child Nicklaus tied with Mickelson at BellSouth Classic
Posted: Sunday April 02, 2000 02:07 PM
DULUTH, Ga. (AP) -- Nicklaus is back in the lead on a Georgia golf course and this time it isn't Jack. Jack's son, Gary, shot a 4-under 68 Saturday and grabbed a share of the lead with Phil Mickelson after the third round of the BellSouth Classic. "Keep calm and be patient," Nicklaus said of his approach to the final round in his quest to win his first PGA Tour title. His previous best finish was a tie for 28th at this year's Honda Classic. Mickelson had a third-round 69 that left the leaders at 11-under 205 for three trips around the hills of the 7,259-yard TPC at Sugarloaf course. They held a two-shot lead over Kenny Perry and Harrison Frazar, both posting 70s Saturday. "I think I have played it pretty well," Nicklaus said. "I think I have been pretty patient and I think it sets up well for me." He said he had talked with his father, who is playing in The Tradition, after each of his first two rounds. Was there any message? "Keep playing well," Gary said. Someone suggested to Mickelson after his round that he could be put in the role of the bad guy on Sunday facing the son of one of golf's most popular players, especially coming on heels of snapping Tiger Woods' six-tournament winning streak at the Buick Invitational earlier this year. Mickelson grinned and said: "Well, I am not trying to be the bad guy. I am just trying to win a golf tournament. It just so happens that those players played well the same week. "Again, tomorrow I am not going to be out there trying to steal a win from Gary," he said. "That is certainly not the case, but I certainly want to win myself. That is going to be the goal tomorrow. That is going to be the intent and that is going to be what I will be focusing on." Second-round leader Joey Sindelar never got anything going despite an eagle 3 at the 541-yard fourth and shot a 74. He was tied at 208 with Jay Don Blake, 69, Tom Pernice Jr., 69, Steve Jones, 70, and John Huston, 73. Five other players are in striking distance at 7-under -- Stewart Cink, 67, Dicky Pride, 68, Chris Perry, 69, Steve Flesch, 69, and Blaine McCallister, 72. Mickelson said it was important that he and Nicklaus get off to a good start because the groups in front of them will be capable of making an early run at the lead. Mickelson held the lead alone for most of the back nine until missing a 3-foot par putt at the 17th green, allowing Nicklaus to move into a share of the lead. Neither was able to birdie the par 5 finishing hole, with Mickelson getting par when he failed to chip up a slight hill to the green with his third shot, then two-putted. Nicklaus lipped out an 8-foot birdie putt at the final hole. Nicklaus got off to a slow start with bogeys on two of his first three holes. He got those shots back with birdies at 4 and 7, then chipped in from 25 feet for a birdie at No. 10, the first of four consecutive birdies. Mickelson got off to a good start with a birdie at the first hole. He added birdies at Nos. 4 and 5 before chipping in from 30 feet for another at the eighth. He lost a shot at nine when his approach landed in a creek, but salvaged a bogey when he chipped in from off the green.
His only birdie on the back side came at the 12th with a 10-foot putt.
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