Phil Mickelson blasts out of a greenside bunker on the second hole during third round play. He is 10 shots back and tied for seventh place. He has 11 birdies so far in the tournament, but his eight bogeys have kept him from making a comeback. (Michael Holahan/Augusta Chronicle)

About the time everyone else started charging up the leaderboard, a repeat performance of Mickelson's magical 2004 all but imploded.

Missed greens in regulation are costing him. Mickelson missed eight greens in his second round and five of 11 in his third round. There are 34 players in the tournament faring better in that category.

"I've made a few too many mistakes," Mickelson said. "I thought I was in a pretty good rhythm, but it just never manages to hold."

Mickelson did not comment on the flare-up with Vijay Singh this week. But he did point out his attention to detail during his round.

"I tried to be as careful as I could today," Mickelson said.

The defending champion is not faring well holding his ground on the leaderboard. He stands 10 shots behind leader Chris DiMarco after 11 holes of his third round. He is currently tied for seventh place.

"Tomorrow I have 25 holes left, and I'm 10 shots back," Mickelson said. "It doesn't look so good. But I know if I make some birdies I can make a run."

The birdies don't seem too hard to come up with. The problem is that the birdies come paired with bogeys.

Mickelson's Masters scorecard currently contains 11 birdies and eight bogeys. For every shot he gains on the leaders, he soon gives it back.

"I have made more bogeys this week than all last year," Mickelson said. "When I'm trying to make up ground, it's really tough out there."

And he watches DiMarco and Tiger Woods go lower and lower.

"I'm hanging tough, but I'm quite a ways back. I'll never admit defeat, we have a lot of holes left."

Mickelson was all smiles and chuckles after the round, but his round really was no laughing matter.

A bad tee shot on No. 9 landed in the trees, forcing Mickelson to thread his approach through a very difficult lie.

The approach missed the trees but landed in a bunker. Mickelson scrambled for an up-and-down par with a sand save that landed three feet from the hole.

It was his easiest putt of the day.

"I have hit the ball well by hitting putts on the line, but they just didn't go in," Mickelson said.

His drives found 85 percent of the fairways in the first round but dipped to 71 percent in the second round.

He's hitting 77 percent of fairways in his third round, placing him 17th in driving accuracy for the tournament.

Mickelson continues his third round at No. 12 today.

"I'm coming out and will attack (today)," Mickelson said. "I'm going to give it my best."

Reach Jeff Sentell at (706) 823-3425 or jeff.sentell@augustachronicle.com.