Padraig Harrington Still Leads Bridgestone, Tiger Woods 3 Back

After taking off more than a month to be with his wife and mother, both of whom were diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, Phil Mickelson is probably just happy to be back on the golf course.

Of course, as long as he's out there, he'd like to play well, which is why his first two rounds at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational offered promise heading into next week's PGA Championship. After 70-69, Lefty began the weekend 1-under, tied for 22nd. But then Saturday happened.

He went out in 36, but played the final nine holes of the third round in 39 strokes. The 5-over, 75 dropped Mickelson to 54th, pretty much guaranteeing that Sunday's round will be his last competitive tune-up before Hazeltine.

More: Bridgestone Invitational Leaderboard

While the world No. 2 continues to get back into playing shape, No. 1's game is coming together in time for the season's final major. Tiger Woods fired a 5-under, 65 Saturday, jumping from 13th to second.

If the previous three majors are any indication, Woods' performance this week will have no correlation to how he plays at the PGA (Tiger won prior to each major this year, but the momentum was short-lived; he tied for sixth at Augusta and Bethpage, and missed the cut at Turnberry). But for now, he seems to have his driver under control, which has been his most glaring weakness in recent events. A week ago, he won for the 69th time on tour despite spraying the ball all over the property.

In three days at Firestone, Tiger has improved his driving accuracy from 36 percent to 50 percent to 64 percent. If he was getting ample birdie looks from the rough, hitting approach shots from the short grass makes him that much more formidable. Which is to say: if Woods continues on this pace, he'll head to Hazeltine with a two-tournament winning streak.

But before we just hand Tiger the trophy, it's worth mentioning that Padraig Harrington is currently atop the leaderboard. It's a nice change for the three-time major champion, who has struggled through swing changes for most of this season.

On Saturday, he signed for 67, his third sub-70 round of the week, and he will be in the final group with Woods tomorrow. Whatever happens, Paddy has to be happy with his Firestone performance. The lesson: unless you're the golfer formerly known as Eldrick, don't overhaul your swing promptly after winning a major. It does more harm than good.

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AKRON, OH - AUGUST 08: Tiger Woods of USA plays his approach shot on the 16th hole during the third round of the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational on August 8, 2009 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tiger Woods

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Jerry Kelly watches his eagle putt roll past the cup on the second hole during the third round of the Bridgestone Invitational golf tournament Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 08: Tiger Woods of USA plays his approach shot on the 11th hole during the third round of the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational on August 8, 2009 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tiger Woods

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AKRON, OH - AUGUST 08: Tiger Woods of USA celebrates his putt on the 15th hole during the third round of the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational on August 8, 2009 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tiger Woods

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AKRON, OH - AUGUST 08: Tiger Woods of USA plays his tee shot on the 16th hole during the third round of the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational on August 8, 2009 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tiger Woods

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AKRON, OH - AUGUST 08: Tiger Woods of USA celebrates his putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational on August 8, 2009 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tiger Woods

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Tiger Woods looks over his birdie put on the 18th green during the third round of the Bridgestone Invitational golf tournament Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. Woods made the putt to go to 7-under par heading into Sunday's final round. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Angel Cabrera, from Argentina, chips to the 18th green during the third round of the Bridgestone Invitational golf tournament Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. Cabrera stands at 4-under par going into Sunday's final round. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)