Mickelson leads the way from Woods in Shanghai

Former champion Phil Mickelson will take a two stroke lead over world number one Tiger Woods and fellow American Nick Watney into the final round of the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions after carding a five-under-par 67 in Shanghai today.

World number two Mickelson shipped just his second bogey of the week as he added to yesterday’s flawless 66 as the 2007 champion progressed to 14-under-par overall.

Two-time runner-up Woods followed up back-to-back rounds of 67 with a battling two-under 70, while Watney sank mammoth eagle putt at the last to sign for the same third-round score.

Ryan Moore continued the American domination as back-to-back birdies sealed a round of 70 to improve to 11 under, with Race to Dubai leader Lee Westwood, who lost in a play-off to Mickelson two years ago, in the hunt a further shot off the pace after a sparkling seven-under-par 65.

Westwood had progressed quietly through the first two days in Shanghai with rounds of 70 and 71, but made his mark with a flawless five-under-par 31 front nine.

He sandwiched his only bogey of the day at the 15th between two further gains.

And, after a birdie putt agonisingly lipped out on 17, a mammoth drive down the final fairway led to an eighth birdie of the day.

“I didn’t really make a big improvement, I just sank a few more putts. I felt like I was lacking a bit of rhythm with my stroke for the first couple of days,” he said.

“I tried to free it up and putt with a bit more rhythm and let the putter flow and I rolled a few in and made a couple of four or five footers to keep the momentum going.”