Thrilling finish on cards in Atlanta

A thrilling finish to the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta looks odds-on today with 11 players separated by only two strokes early in the third and last round.

The second successive US Tour event to spill into Monday had been reduced to 54 holes after the first two days were a total wash-out and Saturday morning’s play halted by a freak hail and snowstorm.

Phil Mickelson and Jose Maria Olazabal made their move in Sunday’s second round and started the concluding 18 holes in joint second place, one behind Scott McCarron.

But after an hour’s play it was another American, Frank Lickliter, who led at seven under.

Mickelson’s birdie at the short second kept him in the group one back, but Olazabal opened with four successive pars to be joint seventh on five under.

The day began with the conclusion of the second round and Miguel Angel Jimenez bogeyed his last two holes to miss the cut.

Also out went Phillip Price and Thomas Levet, who has yet to make a cut on the circuit this season, while Brian Davis withdrew.

Mickelson and Olazabal were looking not just to win, but to give their confidence a boost going into the Masters starting on Thursday – and for Olazabal it was a chance to get back his US Tour card.