Quinney’s ace can’t trump Mickelson yet

Phil Mickelson saved par with a tricky putt at No. 18, saved his lead through 54 holes at the Northern Trust Open, and now can only hope he saved his best for last.

Immediately after his round, Mickelson, suddenly a fitness freak, ran up the steep steps behind the 18th green on his way to the clubhouse atop Riviera Country Club.

His one-under-par 70 on Saturday allowed him to exit with a one-shot lead over Jeff Quinney entering today’s final round.

Quinney rolled in a 35-footer for birdie on No. 18 to put an exclamation putt on his four-under round of 67 that included an ace on the par-three sixth hole.

After Mickelson raced up the stairs, Quinney walked up, slowly, one step at a time, which is basically the story of his life.

“My whole career is just like building a house or building bricks,” Quinney said. “Basically I’ve gotten better every year.”

Today, this hare-vs.-tortoise chase continues.

Mickelson stands at 11-under 202 overall with Quinney one step back at 10-under 203.

Mickelson began the day with a four-shot lead, but it’s not that big any more.

He didn’t run away with the tournament he would love to win. Instead, he made it interesting.

But any lead is a lead, right?

“I like being in the lead,” Mickelson said.

This is Mickelson’s 11th shot at winning at Riviera, and his past includes a few cautionary tales. He led by three shots at one point on the final day last year before losing in a playoff to Charles Howell III.

In other words, this tournament is far from over.

Unless Mickelson and Quinney come back to the field, today’s final round will essentially be a match-play event. John Rollins, five shots behind Mickelson at six-under 207, might be able to get back in contention. Three players -- Stuart Appleby, Vaughn Taylor and Scott Verplank -- stand at five-under 208.

“If we go out and shoot under par, it will be tough for guys to catch us and we’ll have a good match,” Mickelson said.

Mickelson and Quinney attended Arizona State and are former U.S. amateur champions, but they have little else in common in terms of golf greatness.

Mickelson, 37, has won 32 tournaments on tour, including three majors.

Quinney, 29, once finished third in the FBR Open.

Mickelson has been a star for years, while Quinney has worked on his brick-by-brick path.

Quinney has been paired with Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh in tournaments, but Saturday was the first time he has played professionally with Mickelson.

“He’s a great player and it’s hard not to watch him at times and concentrate on what you’re doing because he hits some amazing shots,” Quinney said.

Quinney said he was nervous at first, but he didn’t play like it, making up three shots on Mickelson.

Of course, there’s nothing like a hole in one to settle your stomach.

“It almost put me down a level and put me in the zone and I was really at ease the rest of the day,” Quinney said.

The tournament took a competitive turn at No. 6, the famed hole that features a two-tiered green with a bunker in the middle.

It played only 163 yards Saturday compared with its usual 199, and Quinney conquered it with a seven-iron. He actually pulled his shot beyond the pin, and didn’t think much of it when he heard the roar.

“I knew it was trickling back to the hole, but I don’t think I actually saw it fall in the cup,” Quinney said.

The ace briefly put Quinney in the lead, at 10 under to Mickelson’s nine. But Mickelson answered Quinney by knocking an eight-iron to within eight feet and then made birdie.

“I thought that was as good of a response as I could have expected,” Mickelson joked of his birdie. “Yeah, I thought that was a big two for me.”

Mickelson seemingly regained control with a two-shot swing at the par-five 11th. He made birdie, while Quinney’s skulled wedge on his third shot led to a bogey.

That put Mickelson two up on Quinney, and it stayed that way until the 18th. Both players bogeyed the par-three 16th, dropping Mickelson to 11 under and Quinney to nine.

Both hit perfect tee shots at the uphill 18th and while Quinney found the green with his second, Mickelson’s shot landed closer to the hole, but just off the green. Quinney putted first and watched his ball drop into the cup.

“I was just trying to snuggle it down there so I wouldn’t have to worry about the second putt, and it luckily went,” Quinney said. “Perfect speed, right in the center.”

Mickelson used a putter from the fringe but ran his ball six feet past the hole, adding some unintended drama before sinking a day-ending par save.

Mickelson vs. Quinney might seem like a final-day mismatch, but one learns early in golf not to take things for granted.

“You learn that in junior golf, yeah,” Mickelson said. “That’s just a given. It doesn’t matter who it is. If the guy is good enough to be in the last group, he’s obviously playing well enough to win.”

Mickelson is looking for his 33rd win on tour; Quinney is looking for a breakthrough.

Neither, though, has won at Riviera, so maybe today will be a first.

chris.dufresne@latimes.com

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Leaderboard

Third-round scores. Par 71. Final round today, coverage begins at noon on Ch. 2

*--* Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Par Phil Mickelson 68 64 70 202 -11 Jeff Quinney 69 67 67 203 -10 John Rollins 68 70 69 207 -6 Stuart Appleby 69 70 69 208 -5 Vaughn Taylor 67 70 71 208 -5 Scott Verplank 68 69 71 208 -5 *--*