Phil Mickelson and Nick Watney are set for another duel at Doral after a day of thrust and parry between the Americans at the World Golf Championships - CA Championship.
Jeev Milkha Singh and Camilo Villegas are leading The European Tour challenge at 12 under though Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy has six shots to make up on the leaders after a disappointing end to his third round.
World Number Three Mickelson carded a third round 69 on the Blue Monster course to move to 16 under par for the tournament after seeing his two shot halfway lead eroded by a 67 from Watney as the pair vied for the lead all day in the last group out.
Mickelson had begun the day at 13 under, two ahead of Watney with Kenny Perry and McIlroy at ten under in a tie for third place.
McIlroy, the youngest player in the field and bidding to become the youngest tournament winner in US PGA Tour history as the age of 19 years, ten months and 12 days, had been going well at 13 under before a run of three bogeys in four holes dropped him back to ten under.
McIlroy, though, stayed composed at the final hole to par for a round of 72 to give himself a fighting chance on the last day on the same mark as Australia’s Rod Pampling and American Justin Leonard.
“It was a pretty difficult day out there and I thought I was doing very well,” McIlroy said.
“I just let a few slip at the end.
“It could have been better but I am still there or thereabouts.”
Ahead of McIlroy and four shots back on the leaders in a tie for third are Singh of India and Colombia’s Villegas with Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros joining Americans Jim Furyk, Charley Hoffman and Perry on 11 under.
Best round of the day belonged to another Dane, Søren Hansen, who was eight under for the day and nine under for the week following a third round 64.
England’s Luke Donald was also on nine under following a 68.
Ireland’s World Number Five Padraig Harrington, who had started at seven under, had been well placed at ten under before a double bogey at the 17th sent him back to eight under in a round of 71.
