Phil Mickelson puts together a sensational back-nine run at the Masters

We’ve seen Phil Mickelson produce some incredible moments over the years at the Masters. When you have three green jackets people expect a certain level of golf when you step on the ground at Augusta National, but on Saturday afternoon under a cloudless spring afternoon, Phil Mickelson raised those expectations to a level the likes of which we’ve never seen from him at the Masters.

As golf writers, we tend to throw around superlatives when talking about a great golf round. But Phil Mickelson’s back nine on Saturday? We’ll there really isn’t a superlative that would do his finishing run justice. It was spectacular, unreal; frankly, it was the kind of stuff that left even the most ardent golf fan speechless.

Early on, it looked like a Saturday charge wasn’t even in the cards for Mickelson. After stringing together nine consecutive pars to start his round, he started to find his groove on the 10th, rolling in a birdie putt that would set off one of the most incredible back nine charges we’ve seen in Masters history.

Mickelson went on to stuff his approach shot on the 12th to within 15 feet, before calmly rolling in the birdie putt that set off a roar that seemed to echoe throughout Amen Corner. He followed the birdie up by stuffing his approach shot from 207 yards on the par-5 13th to within 25 feet for eagle.

It was the kind of shot that made you realize we could be on the verge of seeing something special. Mickelson was charging, and it seemed like the eagle putt was the perfect turning point … and it certainly was, as he watched the ball disappear into the hole for eagle.

Mickelson went on to birdie the par-5 15th (that included one of the greatest flop shots you’ll ever see in your life) and the par-4 18th to finish off a magical round of 6-under 66 that his him sitting just one back of Peter Hanson going into tomorrow’s final round. We saw some Masters magic from Phil on Saturday, but knowing him, there’s a good chance he has more left in the tank for Sunday’s final round.

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