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Mickelson hits eject button with 2-over 74

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Saturday was moving day at the Masters, but unfortunately for three-time champion Phil Mickelson, that meant dropping out of contention instead of moving into it.

The 46-year-old entered the round four shots behind the leaders, and looked to be on his game with birdies on the first two holes.

Unfortunately Mickelson would give those two shots right back with a double-bogey on the third hole, with the struggles occurring in shocking fashion for the short-game wizard.

After finding a fairway bunker off the tee, Mickelson would come up just short of the green on the challenging par-4. The five-time major champion would then shock everyone in attendance by chunking his pitch shot, left to wait helplessly while the ball rolled back to his feet.

He would opt to putt on his second attempt, but would steam that one past the hole and take two more to get down. It instantly killed any momentum he had built with the hot start and left him even after three holes.

Mickelson would add bogeys on six, eight, and nine, finishing the opening set with a 3-over-par 39 to sit well back of the leaders.

While he played the back-9 without registering a bogey, Mickelson was only able to grab one birdie on the way in, and finish his round with a disappointing 74.

The quest for his fourth green jacket also had the historical implication that Mickelson would become the oldest winner in Masters history. Sadly, after Saturday's struggles it appears that record will stand for at least another year.

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