Mickelson has long way to go at Barclays

Aug 23, 2008 - 8:37 PM By Simon Lewis PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PARAMUS, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Phil Mickelson wrote off his chances of victory at The Barclays but insisted his final round would be crucial to his FedEx Cup hopes.

Mickelson shot a 2-over-par 72 in Saturday's third round, leaving him at 1-under overall and with a mountain to climb if he is to catch the leaders in Sunday's final round.

With the new points system encouraging volatility in the standings a finishing position in the 40s, where he was tentatively placed following his third round, would send Mickelson tumbling down the points list. The world No. 2 entered this event third in the standings.

With three more events to go and the field being reduced after each one until a 30-player field competes for The Tour Championship at the end of September, Mickelson said he would still be chasing a strong finish at Ridgewood on Sunday.

"It wasn't the best round, so I need to play a little bit better tomorrow and the rest of the playoffs," Mickelson said. "The way the points system is set up over these four weeks, every round and every shot and every position matters, because of the variance in points.

"So it may not look it this week; but if I can fight out and play a good round tomorrow and move up and finish in the Top-10 or 20 down the road if I happen to win, it will give me more of a cushion; or if I happen to play better the next couple of weeks, it will better position me."

Mickelson, who will defend his title at the Deutsche Bank Championship next week in Boston, said he was at a loss to explain his relatively poor form this week which had produced rounds of 70, 70 and 72.

"I don't have a great answer for that, because I feel like I've been driving the ball pretty good," he said. "I feel like I've hit some pretty good iron shots. I feel like I've made some decent putts and hit some decent chips, but I'm also just not getting the ball in the hole.

"I'm not scoring and I don't have a great answer."