Date: May 05, 2013
Author: Omnisport

Mickelson, Watney all square in Charlotte

Phil Mickelson and Nick Watney are tied for the lead at the Wells Fargo Championship after an error-strewn third round at Quail Hollow. Mickelson double-bogeyed the 15th hole and then dropped another shot on the 16th to post a one-over 73, while Watney joined him at the top of the leaderboard after a one-under 71. However, Watney was also left to rue mistakes after a double-bogey on the par-three 17th, as eight of the top nine players all dropped shots on the back nine on Saturday. Watney and Mickelson finished the third round on eight under overall at the PGA Tour event in Charlotte, one shot ahead of George McNeill, who bogeyed the 15th and 18th holes to record an even-par 72. Those bogeys cost McNeill the outright lead but the 37-year-old American is still a stroke clear of a six men on six under, including Australia&aposs John Senden, who flew up the leaderboard during the third round. Senden produced four birdies on the front nine and two more on his run home, but a bogey on the 16th hole cost him a share of third position alongside McNeill as the Australian veteran completed a five-under 67. Sweden&aposs Robert Karlsson, English pair Lee Westwood and David Lynn, plus Ryan Moore and Derek Ernst are the other five players two shots behind Mickelson and Watney. Mickelson notched his first of three bogeys on Saturday at the par-four third hole and while the 42-year-old American looked comfortable after a birdie on the 10th took him to two under for the day, he self-destructed on the back nine. On the par-five 15th, Mickelson hit a shot out of bounds after his tee shot ended in the trees to post a double-bogey and the veteran had to hold on for a share of the lead. Watney three-putted on the 17th to join Mickelson in the lead with one round to play in North Carolina.