AKRON, Ohio, July 31 (Reuters) - A magical recovery to set up a birdie three at the last kept Phil Mickelson in the title hunt for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Thursday.
In the left rough off the tee, the American world number two threaded a four-iron through a five-yard gap in the trees to 14 feet and coolly rolled in the putt for a two-under-par 68.
That left him two strokes behind pacesetting South African Retief Goosen and well placed in his bid for a third PGA Tour victory this year.
"I didn't capitalise on some opportunities that I had and didn't make as many birdies as I would have liked," left-hander Mickelson told reporters after a flawless round featuring just two birdies.
"But I hit a lot of good shots, drove the ball well and played aggressively throughout the day. When I did get in trouble on a couple of holes, I was able to get down and salvage par."
The highest-ranked player at Firestone Country Club in the absence of the injured Tiger Woods, Mickelson conceded his second shot at the last had been a calculated risk.
"I saw a little bit of a gap," he said of his approach from 169 yards. "I hit it low into the trees, kept it down, landed it well short and ran it up.
RISKY PLAY
"It was a risky play, though, because I couldn't hit it very high or it would hit the trees and if I hit it low it catches the rough and stays there.
"It was risky but it paid off because I was able to not only salvage par but I ended up making a birdie."
Mickelson, known as "Phil the Thrill" by many of his fans because of his cavalier approach to the game, said he had disregarded his other options from under the trees.
"I was looking at maybe a wedge or a nine-iron to go left of the trees, go up and over and around," he said. "I didn't feel I could get it up over the trees.
"So I was looking at maybe an L-wedge (lob wedge) but I didn't feel I could get it all the way back to the right of the fairway because I had to aim left.
"Then the other option was just to go out directly right and try to hit it about 70 yards. I didn't really like those shots." (Editing by Ken Ferris)
