Masters Third Round Thoughts 2012

We saw a couple of amazing rounds of golf today from Peter Hanson and Phil Mickelson.

Thirty! on the BACK NINE? Crazy.

Loved the Bro-Hugs between Sergio and Rory when they got their first birdies.

Sorry to see Couples and Dufner fall back. Those were really good stories.

The likely winners tomorrow are either Mickelson or Hanson. I’ve been completely wrong on everything this week, so I won’t venture a guess.

Still, there is a lot of talent hanging around the top, such as Louis Oosthuizen at -7; Bubba Watson at -6 and Matt Kuchar at -5. Somewhat less likely are Matt Kuchar who starts tomorrow at -4 along with Padraig Harrington, Henrick Stenson and Lee Westwood. All of these guys will need help from those ahead to make it possible.

Phil’s getting himself into contention is a bit of a Masters miracle. He looked terrible on Thursday, but kept it together. He gained a little Friday and then went crazy today. But it was his ability to keep it close when he didn’t even have his “C” game that made all the difference.

Mickelson and Hanson are one and two in putting this week. Mickelson averaged 1.43 putts per hole; Hanson, 1.46. Tiger is 23rd at 1.61 putts per hole.

Interestingly, Woods and Mickelson are identical in their Greens-In-Regulation stats at 59.26%. They’re also identical in driving accuracy at 59.52%.

What does the above say to me? It may not be Tiger’s driver and iron play that is killing him. It’s the putting. The difference between his putting and the leaders over 54 holes is eight shots. He’d be within three shots of the lead with Hanson or Mickelson’s putting.

I wonder if Hanson will be able to get to sleep tonight?

Here’s the skinny on Peter Hanson: Four European tour wins since he turned pro in 1998. Add to that another “Challenge Tour” victory (that’s the EPGA’s Nationwide). Four Majors played before this one, with the best finish a T7 in the 2011 US Open.  He missed the cut in last year’s Masters, and finished T24 in the 2009 Open Championship and T23 in the 2007 PGA. He was a 150/1 shot to win at the beginning of this week.

Writers around the ‘net are saying that Sergio’s collapse indicates an issue that prevents him winning the big ones. Of course they’re ignoring the fact that Rory was equally bad, and he owns a Major trophy. I think Sergio will win his major and that it’ll be an Open Championship.