In the two groups behind Phil Mickelson (Stats | Bio) (Stats | Bio) on Saturday were the only players who started the third round of the Masters Tournament ahead of him.

In the pairing he followed was one of Georgia golf's favorite sons, someone who is a hometown guy anywhere in the Southeast.

And alongside him all day was a young Augusta native who still has more local support than local knowledge at this tournament.

But all around Augusta National yesterday, Mickelson was the popular choice, his gallery the largest, the loudest and the most vividly hopeful heading into the weekend at the Masters.

And it wasn't close.

Fans cheered his birdies a little harder than others and shouted his name as he moved around the course, a chorus of "come on, Phil'' following him off every tee and down every fairway.

He managed to siphon excitement off the Charles Howell crowd by picking up four shots on his playing partner in the first two holes.

And he stole fans who had tired of watching Davis Love III (Stats | Bio) give away strokes over the front nine.

There was no surprise that Mickelson was the crowd favorite, only in the degree to which he was - that he could have so many people pulling for him when there were so many high-profile players near the lead.

It was as if, on the first day at Augusta without the Masters' most beloved player ever, Mickelson was not only grabbing hold of this tournament but also taking over a mantle.

And who would have guessed that a player once called the Next Nicklaus could, even for one afternoon, be the New Arnie?

But Lefty seemed to have everyone right behind him Saturday.

Maybe it's his daring style fans would love to try if they had a shade of his talent. Maybe it's that little sideways smile he gives after a brilliant shot, as if he is almost embarrassed by how good he can be.

But, somehow, he does something to people.

The problem is, he has always done far worse things to Phil, costing himself some of golf's most important championships with the haughty approach that makes him so popular.

He had chances to throw Saturday away, too.

He took the lead a little after 4 p.m. and minutes later knocked a putt past the hole on No. 9.

In so many majors past, it was a stroke he would have given away, the hiccup that would have started the choke.

But, this time, he made it in the middle of the hole and continued his electric march down into Augusta's back nine with a massive crowd trailing behind him like some sort of logoed congregation.

Once down there, he was more consistent than cavalier, even though he did go straight at a dangerous pin on No. 11 and attempted a risky pitch on 13.

Still, both resulted in pars during a string of 10 straight to end his round of 69 that gave him a share of the lead heading into today's final round.

He'll be in the final group this time. And he'll be first with the crowd again.

Now, where he stands at the end of the day, whether it's with his hands around his first major victory or on an extended streak without one, will determine whether this Sunday at Augusta sounds more like a mass or another mass celebration led by Phil Mickelson (Stats | Bio) (Stats | Bio).

Savannah Morning News sports columnist Tim Guidera can be reached at (912) 652-0352.