Phil Mickelson flies in a coach, starts out with three bogeys

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Phil Mickelson had said after his round of 70 Saturday left him four shots behind leader Ryuji Imada after three rounds of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines that he might fly in swing guru Butch Harmon to help him before today’s final round.

Mickelson did. He and Harmon were out on the practice range by 7:20 this morning whacking balls. A Golf Channel commentator estimated it cost $30,000 to get Harmon to Torrey Pines. And after three holes Mickelson is three-over par and seven shots from the lead. So this swing must be a work in progress.

Imada has a one-shot lead over Ben Crane after two holes. Crane birdied the second hole. Imada has recorded two pars.

Michael Allen, who is celebrating his 51st birthday today, shot a five-under 31 on the front nine and he birdied the par-three 11th hole. He is 10-under and three shots out. And Murrieta’s Rickie Fowler birdied the par-four fourth hole to also get to 10-under.

-- Diane Pucin