DULUTH, Ga. — Phil Mickelson's putter let him down again. Retief Goosen was there to take advantage Saturday.
The South African, whose only victory on American soil came in last year's U.S. Open, shot a 4-under-par 68 in the third round of the BellSouth Classic to take a two-stroke lead over Mickelson.
Goosen launched a streak of five birdies in six holes by sinking a 20-foot putt at No. 9, one of the toughest tests on the TPC at Sugarloaf. He signed for the lowest score of the day, one of just 10 players who broke into the 60s.
Three days of sunny skies and steady breezes turned the greens rock-hard, mimicking conditions that will be the norm at Augusta National next weekend.
Mickelson found out just how tricky those greens can be, four-putting the 13th to rekindle memories of a similar debacle at The Players Championship.
"If you get on the wrong side of the flag, anything can happen — no matter how good your short game is," said Goosen, who knows a thing or two about missing short putts. "I'm a little surprised he's not higher."
Still, Mickelson was in contention for the 21st victory of his career, more than any active player except Tiger Woods.
Goosen had bogeys at 16 and 18, finishing with a 14-under 202. Mickelson was at 204 after shooting a third-round 71.
"The greens are very difficult," Lefty said. "I made countless 4- to 6-footers for par. Obviously, I missed one at 13, but I hit a lot of good shots. For the most part, I thought I played well."
After making the turn with a two-stroke lead over Goosen, Mickelson found himself tied when he walked away from the par-5 10th.
Goosen birdied the hole, while Mickelson came up a club short with his second shot — winding up in the front bunker.
Mickelson chunked his sand wedge — barely clearing the lip of the bunker — and left the ensuing chip 12 feet from the flag. He missed the putt for just his third bogey of the tournament.
Then came the meltdown at 13, the shortest par-4 on the course at 310 yards. Playing in the group ahead of Mickelson, Goosen came through with another birdie, leaving his tee shot just off the green, chipping to 19 feet and sinking the putt.
LEGENDS OF GOLF: At St. Augustine, Fla., Doug Tewell made an eagle from the fairway on the first hole — a great start to a day that left him in the lead after the second round of the Legends of Golf.
Tewell used a 6-iron to sink his second shot from 173 yards on the par-4 opening hole. It was the highlight of a round of 6-under 66 that left him at 9-under 135 for the tournament.
One stroke behind was his playing partner, Stewart Ginn, who shot a 67. Tom Jenkins shot the low round of the day, a 65 that left him tied with Hale Irwin, two strokes back at 137.
OFFICE DEPOT CHAMPIONSHIP: At Los Angeles, Se Ri Pak, widening her lead with an eagle on the hole she double bogeyed a day earlier, shot her second consecutive 4-under 68 to take a three-stroke advantage into the final round of the Office Depot Championship.
On the 463-yard, par-5 No. 17, where she had hit in the water and three-putted from 11 feet for a 7 the previous day, she hit a good drive, stroked her 9-iron onto the fringe 18 feet from the pin, then rolled in the winding putt for an eagle 3.
PORTUGUESE OPEN: At Faro, Portugal, Sweden's Carl Pettersson and England's David Gilford shared the lead at 2-under 142 through two rounds of the Portuguese Open, cut to 54 holes because of weather.