By Geoff Long Apr 12, 2009, 21:20 GMT
Augusta, Georgia - World No 1 Tiger Woods and two-time champion Phil Mickelson produced a stunning charge up the leaderboard Sunday to move within one shot of the lead late in the final round of the Masters at Augusta.
Beginning the day seven shots off the pace, both men conjured up some brilliant golf to pick up six shots in the first 16 holes, lifting them to 10-under-par, one shot behind joint overnight leader Kenny Perry with three holes of his round to play.
Perry, who began the day tied for the lead with Argentine Angel Cabrera, parred the first 10 holes to remain 11-under-par, but Woods and Mickelson were breathing down his neck just one shot back.
Cabrera and Chad Campbell were level on 9-under-par through 10 holes but the first half was all about the stunning charges by both Mickelson and Woods, who stormed into contention for the Green Jacket.
In the past, Mickelson has struggled when partnered with Woods but he put all those problems behind him as he produced a brilliant outward nine of 30, six under par.
The two-time champion birdied two of the first three holes and then birdied five, six, seven and eight to hit 10-under-par before he found water at the 12th and double-bogeyed the treacherous par three.
But the American immediately birdied the 13th hole to go back to 9-under-par and was unlucky not to birdie the 14th hole when his putt lipped out.
That was all forgotten ten minutes later, though, when Mickelson slammed his second shot to the par-five to about four feet. He missed the eagle putt, though and had to settle for birdie.
After a steady start, Woods caught fire with a brilliant eagle at the eighth hole and then birdied the two par fives and a superb birdie three at the 16th to be 10-under-par.
John Merrick and Steve Flesch were the leaders in the clubhouse on 8-under-par, while defending champion Trevor Immelman of South Africa finished on 2-under-par.
'It was an emotional week, but it was a great week,' Immelman said. 'I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I played some good golf today and had a good finish.'
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