Both Mickelson and Woods believe they're hitting the ball well but it doesn't reflect in their scores on Friday.
View full sizePhil Mickelson says he thought he hit the ball well on Friday but it was not reflected in his score, a 71.
DUBLIN, Ohio -- The battle for the No. 1 ranking in golf has turned into a battle to stay within shouting distance of the weekend lead. Phil Mickelson could pass Tiger Woods for that top ranking if he wins the Memorial Tournament this week and Woods finishes fifth or worse. So far, Woods looks like he'll live up to his end of the bargain, but Mickelson has more work to do.
View full sizeTiger Woods reacts after missing a birdie putt on the eighth hole Friday. Mickelson followed a Thursday 67 with a Friday 71 that left him at 6 under and seven shots behind leader Rickie Fowler, while Woods followed his Thursday 72 with a 69 that put him at 3 under, 10 shots back and tied for 25th.
"It was a frustrating day for me because I played very well and didn't shoot the number I thought I should," Mickelson said.
He made a 65-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 No. 7, but followed that with a bogey, one of five bogeys in his round. He nearly drove the 363-yard No. 14, yet still made only par after missing a 7-foot birdie putt. But he did finish with two birdies on 17 and 18, giving him at least a shot if he lights it up today.
"Anything mid-60s would be good," Mickelson said. "I was thinking that today, 66 or lower is going to be a good score."
Woods made bogey on his final hole but still liked his six-birdie round, though he said he lipped out five other putts. He's still feeling his way through only his fourth tournament of the year.
"Usually most guys are at this point in January. Here we are in June, and I'm at the point which most guys are beginning the year," Woods said. "It's a process. I hit more good shots today than I did yesterday."
Young money: Fowler, 21, can look at Jason Day, 22, to see what your first PGA Tour win can do for you. Day won $1.1 million by taking the Byron Nelson Championship two weeks ago. This week, he and his wife, Ellie, a Lucas, Ohio, native, showed up in a new tour bus to hang out with friends and family.
"First week out with the bus, which is really nice," Day said. "We've got a lot of friends and family
in town this week. After a long couple of weeks, it's hard to take this week off because it's Jack's event and, you know, the family's in town. So I'm glad that we have the tour bus because that kind of feels like home."
Day is right back in contention again, five shots back of Fowler and tied for fifth after following a 67 with a 69 on Friday.
Also: There were 71 players that made the cut at 1 over or better. Among those who didn't make it were Ernie Els, Angel Cabrera, Mike Weir and David Duval. . . . Woods is the youngest winner of the Memorial, taking the title at age 23 in 1999. Both Fowler and Day could beat that record. . . . Fowler is the seventh player in the 35 years of the Memorial to hold at least a three-shot lead after 36 holes. Three of those golfers won -- Tom Watson in 1979, Hale Irwin in 1985 and Kenny Perry in 1991.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dlesmerises@plaind.com, 216-999-4479