Mickelson shares lead in Northern Trust Open golf

Phil Mickelson was delighted to emerge from an erratic round with a share of the third-round lead in the Northern Trust Open, alongside 2011 US PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Keegan Bradley. Mickelson, a two-time winner at Riviera Country Club and seeking a second title in as many weeks after his victory at Pebble Beach last Sunday, wrestled his way to a one-under par 70 to keep a share of the lead he's held since Thursday on seven-under 206. "This was a great round for me because I did not play well," Mickelson said. "And I shot one-under par and I'm atop the leaderboard." Mickelson managed just two birdies -- at the par-five first and par-five 11th, against one bogey -- but was proud of all the hard-earned pars. "The one thing I did is that on all those misses, I missed it on the side I had to miss it on," Mickelson said. "I was able to miss it on the correct side that allowed me to always have a chance at making par." Meanwhile Bradley, whose outstanding 2011 campaign included a major title with his playoff victory in the PGA Championship, had six birdies in his five-under par 66, which matched the low round of the day. Mickelson and Bradley were one shot in front of Americans Bryce Molder, Jonathan Byrd and Pat Perez. Molder also posted a 66, while Byrd carded a 69 and Perez a 70 on a brilliant day at the historic course long associated with golf and Hollywood royalty. The crowded leaderboard included another three players just two shots back on 208, including defending champion Aaron Baddeley of Australia -- who also shot 66 -- Dustin Johnson (67) and Bill Haas (68). Australian Jarrod Lyle (71) and Ryan Moore (68) were a further shot back on 209. While Mickelson was headed to the driving range confident of sorting out his problems for Sunday, he said the jammed leaderboard would make for an exciting final round. "There's a lot of players that are right in it, within a couple shots of the lead," Mickelson said. "It's going to take a good round tomorrow. But I'm pleased that I put myself in it." Mickelson's adventures included an impressive save at the 10th, a driveable par-four where his tee shot landed left behind a bottle brush tree. His shot over the bushy plant, with it's distinctive red flowers, caught a branch and failed to reach the green, but his pitch from the greenside swale left him a three-footer to save par. "I thought that was probably a good one because where I was off the tee I was trying to make par," Mickelson said. At 15 he hit his tee shot into the gallery, and when he walked up saw a spectator on the ground. Mickelson's ball had come to a stop at the hem of the man's shorts and he was waiting for Mickelson to retrieve it. "I thought I took him out," Mickelson said. "It wouldn't be the first time." Bradley gave himself a share of the lead with his last two birdies of the day -- at the par-three 16th and par-five 17th. He held onto it with a nine-foot par putt at the last to ensure he'd play in the final group on Sunday with Mickelson. "That's kind of why I was excited to make that putt on the last hole," Bradley said. "But I can promise you I do want to beat Phil, and he wants to beat me." Bradley, nephew of LPGA great Pat Bradley, said he was familiar with the history of Riviera long before he played this tournament as a tour rookie last year. He missed the cut by one stroke and "sulked" for a week. Since going on to win the Byron Nelson Championship and then the PGA Championship, however, that disappointment seems a long time ago. "It's pretty remarkable to see in one year I get to come back here as a major champion, a tournament winner, and have a chance to win," he said.