• Farmers Insurance Open, Round Three

Mickelson makes a move as Tiger's hopes evaporate

Phil Mickelson posted a 68 that was inspired by a terrific front-nine effort © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Casey wins with clutch putt at the last
  
• Profile: Phil Mickelson | Tiger Woods

Leaderboard

Phil Mickelson is set for a last-18 shootout with Bill Haas at the Farmers Insurance Open after making a significant move on the penultimate day.

Mickelson posted a four-under 68 that takes him to 12-under overall at Torrey Pines, level with Haas, who bogeyed the last hole.

Having slipped to No. 6 in the world rankings, Mickelson has shown signs this week that his game is heading on an upward curve. This was his most impressive round of 2011, with birdies flowing as his short game began to click into gear - if anything, he will feel he left a few shots out there.

Mickelson stormed through the front nine, turning in 33 despite dropping a shot at the second, before struggling to sustain that momentum on the back nine as a couple of opportunities slipped by.

Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan both eagled the last to tie for third place at 11-under.

Elsewhere, Tiger Woods' hopes of triumphing evaporated as he posted a 74 that was marred by a succession of mistakes on the greens. The world No. 3 bogeyed three of the first five holes - having dropped three shots across the entirety of the first two days - as the problems that haunted him throughout 2010 once again reared their head.

Playing on a course that has brought him significant success in the past - seven tournament wins, including a major - Woods rallied, picking up shots at six and nine, but his putter's hot streak was only fleeting. He played the back nine in one-over, coughing up a shot on the 15th after missing a routine four-footer.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.