Phil Mickelson hoping for quick return after dropping out of Texas Open

Phil Mickelson has allayed fears that he could miss The Masters after being forced to pull out of the Valero Texas Open during the third round after he pulled a muscle.

The world number five withdrew after the 10th hole, citing a pulled abdominal muscle, but he is hoping he can return to the tour for next weekend’s Shell Houston Open.

Mickelson said a statement on pgatour.com: “I pulled a muscle on my downswing trying to hit it hard. It just killed and it wouldn’t subside for 10 or 12 seconds.

“I’m going back to San Diego (for) a couple of days and have a doctor look at it, but there’s really not much you can do for a pulled muscle.

“I hope I’ll be OK to play the Shell in Houston, but I just don’t know.”

Australian Steven Bowditch chipped in at the first two holes on his way to a three-shot lead after the third round.

Boosted by the hot start, Bowditch continued to display an exquisite short game, recovering from some poor long shots to notch just one bogey on his way to a four-under-par 68 at the TPC San Antonio.

“I didn’t hit the ball real well today at all,” Bowditch told reporters after posting a 12-under 204 total with one round left.

Matt Kuchar (65) carded the lowest round of the week to storm into a tie for second on nine under with fellow American Andrew Loupe (70), who bogeyed the par-five 18th.

Bowditch had never held an end-of-round lead in 110 starts on the PGA Tour before Friday, so his start to the third round was a perfect tonic to calm the nerves.

He chipped in for birdie from 25 feet at the par-four first and then holed out from nearly 30 yards for eagle at the par-five second, leading comfortably for the rest of the day.

“The chip on the first was pretty simple but the one on the second I was just trying to get around the hole and luckily it dropped in,” said the 30-year-old, who hit only eight greens in regulation.

“I don’t even want to know how many greens I hit but I know it wasn’t many. Hopefully tomorrow I will hit a few more fairways and a few more greens.”

Bowditch was a champion junior in his homeland but it has taken him a while to find his feet on tour. He is ranked 339th in the world and while he will start the final round the man to beat, world number 11 Kuchar is brimming with confidence.

Kuchar, the only player among the tournament’s top seven with more than one tour victory, had eight birdies in his round. He sank a bunker shot at the first hole for birdie and also closed in style with a tap-in birdie at the last.

“It’s an exciting position to be in,” said Kuchar, who has won five times on tour.

“My game’s in really good shape. The first two days I left a number of shots out there (but) today was a much better performance as far as scoring.”