Mickelson moves into Masters contention with 68

Phil Mickelson veered off the ninth fairway Friday for a brief moment as he was walking toward his drive.

Mickelson gave out four hugs, a kiss on the cheek, and after a few words moved on down the fairway.

Over the next 10 holes, the popular three-time winner of the Masters Tournament proceeded to make four birdies, shooting 68, and sending the message: Don’t count him out in 2012.

“My dad was over there, along with Bob Diamond and Patrick O’Riordan and some friends of mine,” Mickelson said of the brief scene at No. 9. “They seem to give me some good luck.”

Mickelson’s 68 moved him to 2-under, the highlight moment a 12-footer for birdie at 18, and he will head into the weekend in good position.

“I played well and shot something in the 60s that got me back in the tournament,” Mickelson said. “I was hoping for one or two more under, but that birdie at 18 felt terrific. To only be three back heading into the weekend feels great, too. Especially, after the first 10 holes (Thursday).”

Mickelson went roller-coaster riding those 10 holes with a triple bogey, three bogeys, four pars and two birdies. He finished with 2-over 74.

Friday’s 68 was much more of a calm ride, although he did hit out of the woods at 17 on his second shot and made a slick 12-footer to save par.

Mickelson fired off six birdies Friday, going 2-under on the par-3s and finding his touch on the greens.

“The biggest thing for me (Friday compared to Thursday) was strategically I didn’t miss the ball in the wrong spot,” Mickelson said. “If I got into trouble or hit some poor shots they were on the proper side where I could get up and down and let my short game salvage strokes.”

Mickelson knows the magic of Sundays at Augusta, having won the Masters in 2004, 2006 and 2010. But he said Saturday at Augusta can’t be forgotten.

“I feel like Saturday is the day you can really make your move,” Mickelson said. “Sunday you kind of cherish the back nine and it’s exciting. But Saturday is the day you have got to play well to get yourself in position. This Saturday will be a critical day to get myself in a spot I don’t have to make up too much ground on the leaders.”

Mickelson said the softer course due to the recent rain did produce several mud balls and calls for less strategy out of the golfers.

“You can just fly a ball right to the hole and have it stick,” Mickelson said. “It’s letting guys get away with not having the right angles.”

Mickelson said after Thursday’s round, he more than likes where he’s positioned for the weekend.

“Are you kidding me after yesterday’s round? I love the position I’m in,” Mickelson said. “To only be three back with 36 to go? There is a lot of time left and a lot of birdies out there. And, I get to slide off before the leaders and if I make a move they get to see those numbers being posted ahead of them and that’s not always easy.”