Phil Mickelson held a one-shot lead heading into the back nine on day three of The 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon.
The American started the day with a one-shot cushion but Henrik Stenson passed him after four holes as he made a blistering start in his continued attempt to win a first Major Championship.
But while the Swede dropped shots on the sixth and eighth, a single birdie on the third allowed Mickelson to turn in 35 and move to 11 under with a one-shot advantage.
England's Andrew Johnston was then at six under alongside American Bill Haas, with Søren Kjeldsen and Keegan Bradley battling a shot further back.
Stenson got off to the perfect start as he put his approach to the first to 15 feet and rolled in a birdie to join Mickelson at ten under.
Bradley did not enjoy the same success as he dropped a shot on the opening hole and when Kjeldsen three-putted the third, the leading duo had a four-shot lead over the field.
It looked like advantage Mickelson as Stenson found a bunker off the tee on the third but his drive had got him to the side of the green and an exquisite sand shot set up a birdie which the American matched.
The 40 year old then hit the front as he two-putted from 20 feet for a birdie on the par five fourth but he got in trouble off the tee on the sixth and then could not get up and down from the front bunker at the Postage Stamp.
Johnston had birdies on the seventh and ninth and while he dropped a shot on the tenth, a brilliant chip-in on the 13th got the stroke back.
Haas was two under through 12 holes, the highlight being a holed bunker shot on the Postage Stamp.
Bradley dropped further shots on the fourth and tenth with a birdie on the sixth, while Kjeldsen turned in level par with three birdies and three bogeys but then made a double on the tenth.
Sergio Garcia and JB Holmes were then at four under with Steve Stricker in the clubhouse one shot further back.
