Phil Mickelson moved within touching distance of his first victory outside the United States in 14 years when he grabbed a two shot lead after the third round of the HSBC Champions.
The 37 year old American carded a third round 68 at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai for a 14 under par total of 202 and pole position going into the final round of the first counting event on The 2008 European Tour International Schedule.
The last time Mickelson had such a chance of victory on foreign soil was in July in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond where he went in to the final round one shot clear of Gregory Havret but on that occasion he had to concede defeat to the Frenchman who beat him in a play-off.
This time round the three time Major winner’s nearest opponents, and playing partners for the final day, will be two Englishmen – Ross Fisher and Paul Casey – who will be hoping to emulate Havret’s achievement and come from behind to overhaul the World Number Two.
Certainly both produced form in the third round which suggested they could well do just that, Fisher matching Mickelson’s 68 for a 12 under par total of 204 to take second place while Casey claimed third on 11 under par 205 after a sparkling six under par 66, the best round of the third day.
Second round leader Kevin Stadler is in fourth place on ten under par 206 after his disappointing one over par 73 in the third round while five players share fifth place a little further back on seven under par 209 – Major champions Padraig Harrington and Vijay Singh, along with their fellow European Tour Members Andrew McLardy, Richard Sterne and the defending champion Y E Yang.
But the man they will all have to catch is ‘Leftie’ who admitted he realised the importance to his own career of finally landing another title outside the United States to go with the Tournoi Perrier Paris title which he won as part of the European Challenge Tour in 1993.
“It would mean a lot to come out on top here in China on my first time here,” he said. “I plan to try and play a little bit more on a global basis, trying to add a couple more tournaments worldwide and I hope to have opportunities to do that through international play.
“But I think China provides an opportunity for incredible growth in the game of golf and I would love to have an emotional tie here which winning the HSBC Champions tournament would bring.”
An up and down front nine saw the American reach the turn in one under par 35 but, once again, he turned the screw on his nearest challengers when the clubhouse loomed into view, birdieing three of the last five holes, including the 538 yard 18th where he narrowly missed a 15 foot putt for eagle three – a hole where big hitting Paul Casey believed no-one would get up in two on all day.
“I fought hard early in the round, I made a couple of birdies and a couple of bogeys and was back and forth for a while but towards the end of the round I steadied it a little bit and I had some good birdies coming in. It was a good way to finish.
“It’s always more enjoyable being in front than behind but there are great players there abouts with me including Paul Casey who had a great round today and Ross Fisher who I played with today and who is a really solid player. It is going to be a tough day tomorrow but I would certainly rather be in front than trying to make up ground.”
Second placed Fisher produced an ultra consistent third round 68 with no dropped shots and admitted it proved he was getting ever more comfortable in the company of the game’s greats.
“I felt like today I held myself together pretty well playing with Mickelson and I am looking forward to doing the same tomorrow,” he said. “I played with Paul in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this year so that will help me too tomorrow. It will be tough, but I am looking forward to the challenge.
“I’ve experienced some highlights in my career already – obviously playing with Tiger and Ernie in Dubai this year was one of them – and tomorrow will be another one. I felt I played pretty good today. I hung in there and to come off with a bogey-free 68 is very, very pleasing.”
Third placed Casey had only one dropped shot in his 66 – at the 15th – but his seven birdies provided a kaleidoscope of thrills for the Shanghai crowds as they featured long putts, short putts and three chip-ins.
“It could have been almost anything out there today and I suppose I got a little bit lucky at times,” admitted the Englishman who is going for a unique HSBC double after winning the 2006 HSBC World Match Play Championship.
“But I had a lot of fun out there and the chip-ins made up for some of the putts that I missed yesterday and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So hopefully that will continue through to tomorrow.”
With three Major Champions, the defending champion and a host of European Tour talent in the top ten going into the final round, it seems certain the crowds at Sheshan International Golf Club are going to enjoy it too.
