Time for flustered Phil Mickelson to ask Brandt Snedeker how to play a major like a veteran at Masters

After Brandt Snedeker’s third consecutive bogey on the 13th hole, I pronounced him toast, banishing him to the land of Masters pretenders with Justin Rose and Ian Poulter.

His bounce back, notching two consecutive birdies on 14 and 15, followed by an even more impressive 3 on 18 has him in the final group going into Sunday.

This turnaround was nothing short of remarkable. Snedeker is a true master at damage control. If golf doesn’t work out for him, I’m sure he’d make a fine CEO at Bear Sterns.

Who thought he had it in him? He has this goofy, sheepish smile and it seems like he rushes all of his shots. Apparently if you play a around of golf with his brother, you can see beyond this boyish facade.

Then there is “veteran” Phil Mickelson. You could string a row of Christmas lights with all his red and green ticks this afternoon. When he hit his approach on 15 to about ten feet below the hole for birdie, setting himself up for a third birdie in as many holes, he appeared to be back in the mix.

We were all thinking a possible dream Tiger-Phil pairing on Sunday.

Instead, he hit a brutal putt that never had a chance, missing the last real birdie opportunity on the back nine. But the most buffoonish moment of his day was his next shot. He hit his tee shot on 16 into the worst possible place that every pro who has ever walked Augusta knows not to go: the short side bunker that puts you in complete jail. It’s fitting how it was only Mickelson and 20-year old Andres Romero among the contenders who made this bonehead mistake. Both double bogeyed and put themselves out of contention.

Phil could have just as easily pulled a Snedeker 180 and he’d be back in contention. Snedeker is playing well beyond his years while Mickelson is playing like he’s never been there before. I can’t understand how a two-time winner could have such a lack of composure.

It’s amazing how we’re praising Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson’s incredible scrambles for par on 18 today, while Snedeker and leader Trevor Immelman nonchalantly strode off the green with textbook birdies.

It looks like the Green Jacket is going to be put on another first time major winner tomorrow - and Tiger has to be sick about it.