Vincent Publishing - Index

Vincent Publishing - 2008 Northern Trust Open - Index

PHOTO: STEVE GRAYSON/WIREIMAGE.COM
1Harrington Goes Low and Grabs the Lead
Harrington was a newcomer to the event, but chose to play
aggressively on Thursday. He zoomed past Phil Mickelson
and everyone else at Riviera with an 8-under 63.
Harrington opened with three straight birdies. He ran off
four in a row after making the turn, and even picked one
up on the tough 15th hole when his 5-iron hit the pin and
settled four feet away.
His only bogey on the back nine came from a three-putt on
the par-3 14th, and the Irishman had a reasonable explanation
for that.
“At this stage, I’m feeling invincible,” he said. “I didn’t think
I was ever not going to make birdie.”
It gave him a three-shot lead over Mickelson, Briny Baird
and Pat Perez.
Mickelson was playing for the first time since 2001 at
Riviera, where he has never had much success. After his
victory at Pebble Beach, he kept right on rolling with a
bogey-free 66. He hit only six fairways, but the rough was
negligible and Mickelson wasn’t off by much.
His only disappointment was being three shots behind.
“It’s a little humbling to shoot what I thought was a good
round and then get lapped,” Mickelson said.
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2008 OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT MAGAZINE
2Mickelson Catches Harrington
Mickelson and Harrington spent Friday afternoon on opposite
sides of Riviera as they played totally different styles.
All they had in common when the second round ended was
a share of the lead.
Mickelson got hot with his irons on the back nine with backto-back
birdies inside five feet and a mammoth 3-wood
from 287 yards that set up an eagle on the 17th hole. He
finished with a 6-under 65 and a chance to win for the second
straight week.
Harrington only made two pars on his first 10 holes, a round
filled with brilliance and bogeys, until he finally settled down
in the twilight hours off Sunset Boulevard to card a 68.
They were at 11-under 131, three shots clear of Howell III.
Mickelson only added this tournament to his schedule at
the last minute to test the newfound confidence in his driver.
Two rounds had sent it soaring.
PHOTO: STEVE GRAYSON/WIREIMAGE.COM
TOURNAMENT REVIEW
Mickelson got hot with his irons on the
back nine with back-to-back birdies inside
five feet and a mammoth 3-wood from
287 yards that set up an eagle on the 17th
hole. He finished with a 6-under 65 and a
chance to win for the second straight
week.