• Scottish Open, Round Three

Mickelson on the charge as home stars excel in Scotland

Phil Mickelson made 17 of 18 greens in regulation © Getty Images

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• Profile: Luke Donald | Padraig Harrington | Martin Kaymer | Phil Mickelson | Francesco Molinari

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Phil Mickelson continues to play his way into form ahead of next week's Open Championship, hitting a 65 to propel himself into contention at the Scottish Open on Saturday.

Mickelson, who tied for second place at last year's Open, has been enduring one of the worst slumps in his illustrious career. However, he signalled a turnaround with a 64 on Friday, before following that up with a 65 in the third round.

The American's overall score of 14-under leaves him three shots off the leader, having struggled to make the cut earlier in the week. One bogey was the only blemish on a card that registered eight birdies, with Mickelson making 17 of 18 greens in regulation.

The man he has to catch is Italy's Francesco Molinari, who carded a 67 to top the third-round leaderboard on 17-under. Molinari battled with his game all day, failing to hit a fairway but completing 18 of 18 scrambles to stay flawless for a return of five birdies.

Fellow joint overnight leader Alex Noren slipped away from the top of the pile, but still remains a threat on 14-under. The Swede could only manage a two-under 70 on a day that demanded high scores.

Two Danes and three Scots are strongly in the hunt, with Anders Hansen a solitary stroke adrift of Molinari on 16-under. He sits one shot ahead of compatriot Soren Kjeldsen, who was one of three men to card an eight-under 64.

Martin Laird and Marc Warren also signed for 64s, lifting them to 14-under and 15-under respectively. A third Scot, Peter Whiteford, is alongside Laird and Mickelson.

World No. 1 Luke Donald, the defending champion, has plenty to do if he is to avoid losing his title after an unspectacular day that left the Brit frustrated with his game. Bogeys at seven and 10 ruined a strong start to day three for Donald, before a wayward approach at 15 prompted a show of visible anger.

Donald's 68 leaves him four strokes off the pace, where he is joined by a batch of players including Ireland's Peter Lawrie.

Elsewhere, England's Simon Dyson is a stroke further back on 12-under, while Padraig Harrington sits on 11-under following his best round of the tournament, a 65.

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