Phil Mickelson said he will approach his third round at the Masters the same way as he did his second, as he eyes runaway leader Jordan Spieth.
Mickelson fired a four-under 68 to be within eight shots off runaway leader Jordan Spieth, and the three-time champion said he is remaining patient in pursuit of the 21-year-old.
The popular left-hander hit four birdies in the space of seven back-nine holes, taking 32 shots after the turn - one worse than playing partner Rory McIlroy, although the world number one had to respond to hitting 40 on the front nine.
Mickelson said he felt he, McIlroy and Ryan Moore had the best of the Augusta playing conditions in the afternoon.
"It was a good back nine obviously," Mickelson said.
"I think we got a little lucky with the later tee time, the wind started to die down a little bit.
"And around Amen Corner, although there was still a little bit of wind it was nothing what was like going on earlier in the day.
"We were able to get at some pins and make some birdies; Rory had a good back side, Ryan had a good back side, so it was a good day."
Mickelson said while he is not expecting Spieth to slip up, he wants to be in prime position should the youngster blow his lead.
"There's really no different strategy for me going into tomorrow than really what I had today," the five-time major winner said.
"Today was a tough day starting out where I'm 12 shots off the lead, I've got a difficult golf course with windy conditions and a lot of tough pins.
"It was tough to be patient, it was tough not to force the issue, and make some dumb mistakes would have been real easy to do.
"But I shot a good round, and tomorrow is the same goal - is to go out and shoot a lower round as I can given what the conditions, given where the pin placements are.
"A lot can happen at this golf course. He [Spieth] was playing some of the best golf coming into this tournament, he's playing the best golf in the tournament and I expect him to continue that.
"But you never know what's going to happen in this golf tournament, and if something were to happen, I want to be there."