Mickelson shoots for fourth green jacket

Mickelson shoots for fourth green jacket

TANNEN MAURY/EPA

Phil Mickelson chips on the eighth hole during the second round of t he 2012 Masters Tournament.

AUGUSTA, Ga. A birdie on No. 18 on Friday capped off a round of 68 for Phil Mickelson, getting him back into the mix after his opening 74, ready to make a run for a fourth green jacket.

Asked if he was happy with his position, Mickelson said, Are you kidding me? After yesterdays round I love it. To be only three back with 36 to go, theres a lot of time left and theres a lot of birdies out there and I get to slide off before the leaders. If I make a move, they get to see those numbers being posted ahead of them, and thats not always easy.

PHOTOS: FRED COUPLES SHARES LEAD WITH JASON DUFNER AFTER DAY 2 AT MASTERS

DAY FORCED OUT
Jason Day, last year's co-runnerup, was forced to withdraw with an ankle injury on the eighth hole. It may take six weeks of rest before he can play. He was hobbling all week and probably shouldnt have teed it up.

When Tiger Woods saw him l imping on the range Friday morning, he asked Days caddie, Colin Swatton, how he had injured himself.

Running on the soft sand with the Navy SEALs, Swatton shot back.

Ouch.

RORY LURKING
Rory McIlroy may not have the two-shot lead he held at this point last year but of all the guys near the top of the leaderboard, he looks the most dangerous, tied for second one shot back.

I wouldnt say Im in a position to win yet, but well see what happens today, McIlroy said after his 69. But its good. I feel like Ive played solid golf the last two days and could have been a couple of shots better, like probably everyone in the field is thinking. But Im in a nice position and I definitely would have taken it after the (double bogey) start yesterday.

DUFNER ON THE RISE
Co-leader Jason Dufners game seems to have taken off since he lost the PGA in a playoff against Keegan Bradley last August, up the road in At lanta. He was asked if this week is starting to feel like the PGA.

Not really, he said. I was probably was hitting it better at the PGA, but Im pretty comfortable out here. At the PGA, you have got to be a little bit sharper off the tee. You can get away with a little bit on this golf course tee ball wise.

OPENING FOR LOUIS
Not only did Louis Oosthuizen make his first cut in four Masters starts. Hell go into the weekend.

Its a weird spot for me to be in third at the moment, he said after walking off the course. I normally was busy changing tickets back home. It's a nice spot to be in."

The 2010 British Open champ started the day one off the lead but a double bogey on the par-5 second threatened to derail him. Like Thursday, he finished strong, with three birdies on the last five holes en route to a 72.

LEES PAINFUL DOUBLE
Lee Westwood held onto his lead for 17 of his 18 holes until a double bogey took him down.

Westwoods 4-iron was knocked down short and left of the green and it took him four shots to get down.

The double at the last was a disappointing way to finish but if you get slightly out of position on this golf course, it will punish you, Westwood said. These things happen to everyone. Right in there for the weekend.