The burden is a lot heavier than the two shots by which he trails David Toms in the PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club. The greatest player never to win a major tees off in the final pairing for the third time in his career, and the third time better be a charm - or else.

''The longer it goes on, certainly, the more difficult it could be,'' said Mickelson, who enters the final round of a major within two shots of the lead for the seventh time in his career. ''I know what to expect, and I'm able to anticipate it.''

Mickelson trailed Tiger Woods by a shot at the Masters in April and finished third by three. He trailed Payne Stewart by one at the 1999 U.S. Open in Pinehurst, N.C., and squandered a late lead to lose by one.

He wanted a cushion this week, and he didn't get it.

''There's no question I would much rather have two shots to work with rather than be trailing by two,'' Mickelson said after his third consecutive 66 was upstaged by Toms' ace on the 15th and birdie on the 18th. ''There's nothing I can do but prepare for tomorrow's round and see if I can attack.''

Nobody likes to attack majors like Mickelson. That is his strength and his curse. The value of par means little to him. He made eight birdies Saturday. He also made two bogeys and one double bogey.

On a course that is willing to yield startlingly good scores, Mickelson is looking up at Toms and not back at four players within five shots of him who are capable of coming from behind. Players such as David Duval and Davis Love III.

For motivation, Mickelson isn't looking at the other missed chances at majors. He's looking at what Toms did to him this spring in New Orleans.

''David played in the group in front of me and shot 64 to beat me at New Orleans,'' Mickelson said. ''That's something I still remember, and I wouldn't feel any guilt if I was able to steal it from him tomorrow.''

Toms knows what he's up against. In New Orleans, the home-state galleries were his allies. Mickelson should receive the partisan support in this championship.

''I'm playing one of the best players in the world, while he's trying to win his first major championship and get all of you guys off his back,'' Toms said. ''But there's no reason why I couldn't win my first one, too.''

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219.