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CNN Sunday Morning

David Toms Leads in the PGA Championship

Aired August 19, 2001 - 07:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: And at the Atlanta Athletic Club, it's almost tee-off time for the fourth round of the PGA Championship. David Toms remains a two shot lead over Phil Mickelson. CNN's John Giannone heard from both after their rounds.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN GIANNONE, CNNSI CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He began his day with a leisurely game of catch in the PGA parking lot. By the end of the day, Phil Mickelson was playing catchup, once again trying to hunt down some other leader at a major. Once again, left to map out a come-from-behind Sunday strategy.

PHIL MICKELSON, GOLFER: Being two shots back is certainly not a bad spot to be in. I can be in a good position to make a run at it tomorrow. I would have liked to have had a lead, certainly, but there for a while I had a one or two shot lead and, unfortunately, I wasn't able to hold on to it.

Today was the day to really go low. I had eight birdies and made a couple of mistakes, and tomorrow it will be difficult to go really low, I think, because the greens are starting to get a little bit firmer, the pin positions will be a little bit more tucked.

GIANNONE: Sunday Will mark the ninth time that Mickelson will enter the final round of a major in the top five. His rate of failure, which remains 100 percent, has been well documented.

In the past, Tiger Woods, Payne Stewart and Mark Omira (ph) have been Mickelson's Sunday targets. This time, it's David Toms.

DAVID TOMS, GOLFER: I'm not going to be able to drive it within 30 yards of him. So, you know, I know, number one, not to try to keep up with him. So, I'm going to try to swing within myself, find my rhythm early and hopefully get off to a good start.

MICKELSON: Well, it's certainly an enjoyable position to be in, and in the past it's been a -- it's given me a lot of opportunities to win and, unfortunately, I haven't yet, but I do feel good about my opportunity tomorrow. I've played with David Toms a number of times and certainly he is an incredible player.

TOMS: Sooner or later he's going to win a major. And if I continue to improve, sooner or later I'm going to win won. And I just don't see why tomorrow can't be that day.

GIANNONE: Mickelson and Toms will walk a familiar course on Sunday; three-and-a-half months ago the two represented the final pairing during the final round of a tournament in New Orleans, a tournament won by Toms when he shot a 64. After his round on Saturday, Mickelson said he wouldn't feel any guilt if he was able to steal one from Toms this week.

At the PGA Championship in Duluth, Georgia, I'm John Giannone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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