• Bridgestone Invitational, Round Three

Mickelson slips back at Firestone

Tiger Woods struggled once again at Firestone © Getty Images

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Bridgestone Invitational Leaderboard

Ryan Palmer and Sean O'Hair hold the clubhouse lead at nine-under after three rounds of the Bridgestone Invitational, as big names Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods struggled for form.

Woods had another horror day, with the world No. 1 carding a 75 to move to 11-over after 54 holes. Once again there was a lack of control in his game, as he found just 55% of fairways and it resulted in him carding five bogeys and a double bogey at the eighth. He did hole one monster putt, but bogeys on 17 and 18 summed up Woods' tournament and his grip on the world No. 1 spot is tentative.

Woods seems certain to finish outside the top 44 and provided Mickelson finishes inside the top four he will take over as the world's No. 1.

Mickelson was expected to make a big forward move on Saturday, but he was woeful off the tee and his famed short game was unable to aid him as he slipped back with a 71. He bogeyed the first and although he got back on track with a couple of birdies, Mickelson paid the price for some poor play on the back nine with a couple of bogeys and he now sits at five-under.

Palmer is firmly in contention to win his first World Golf Championship event after shooting a 63. The American, in his second appearance at the tournament, made seven birdies - including at 16 and 17 - as he moved to nine-under.

O'Hair's form was equally impressive, as he went the entire round without making a bogey and six birdies propelled him to a round of 64.

Ernie Els was a big mover on Saturday as the South African produced some brilliant play to card a 64. He changed putters for his third round and was rewarded as he hit just 25 putts in his round to take him to seven-under.

"It was frustrating yesterday as I thought I hit it nicely," Els said. "I have changed putters and the one I went with today comes off a bit quicker and I holed some good putts.

"If you are on your game, you can score. The course is in great shape and if you put it on the short stuff you will get opportunities. This is the thing I needed. I had a tough time in Europe, had two weeks off to regroup and have come back with more energy."

Phil Mickelson was wayward with his driver © Getty Images

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Retief Goosen began the day in the lead but a triple bogey on the first rocked him onto his heels and he could never build any momentum. A poor finish at 18 saw him drop back to four-under following a round of 73.

Paul Casey had a disappointing day, as he followed up a pair of 68s with a 73 to slip back to one-under. He is now three adrift of Rory McIlroy who showed some classy touches, including a holed chip on 17, and the Ulsterman is five off the lead.

Oliver Wilson made a move up the leaderboard with a solid round of 67 and he is four off the lead at five-under.

Jeff Overton let victory slip through his grip last week but he has responded well at Firestone and a 67 in the third round has moved him to six-under - the same score as Hunter Mahan.

Ian Poulter's chances of making a charge for the title were dashed on Saturday, as the Englishman carded five bogeys and a double bogey in a round of 77, while Simon Khan added a 74 to rounds of 73 and 71 to move to eight-over.

Sergio Garcia is showing signs of a return to form and he made a bright start to his round with birdies on two and five, but a couple of bogeys coming home dropped him back to one-under after three rounds.

US Open champion Graeme McDowell put himself in position for a high finish as he birdied 15, 16, 17 and 18 to card a 68 and move to three-under.

Katsuma Miyamoto caught the eye with his garish orange ball, but his play also did the talking on Saturday as a round of 62 fired him into contention. Miyamoto putted superbly and an eagle on 17 was the highlight of his round.

Justin Rose has failed to fire this week and two birdies and two bogeys saw him card a level-par 70 to sit at one-over after three rounds.

Anthony Kim is a player on the comeback trail following a thumb injury and he showed some good form with a 69 - to follow up rounds of 75 and 76.

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