The first regular European Tour event being shown live on American television could have an appropriate winner after Phil Mickelson moved into contention in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
Mickelson began the third round at Castle Stuart Golf Links four shots off the lead and, on another day of low scoring, got off to a frustrating start with seven straight pars.
But the four-time Major winner then birdied the eighth, ninth and tenth - all from around six feet - to improve to 11 under par, two shots behind clubhouse leader Gareth Maybin and England's Ross Fisher.
"Hopefully I'll make a move on Saturday and get in one of their final groups on Sunday. Not for their benefit, for mine," Mickelson had said about the television coverage on Friday.
"I want a shot at the Scottish Open title and I'm playing well enough to do it. I just need a good round today to get me moving in the right direction."
Overnight leader Chris Doak had quickly made a move in the wrong direction when the leaders teed off at 3:25pm, the 35 year old Scot coming up short of the first green with his approach and missing from four feet for par.
Maybin had set the clubhouse target on 13 under after a 64 to equal the lowest round of the week so far, the Northern Irishman carding eight birdies, an eagle and two bogeys.
He was joined at the head of the field when Fisher birdied the first two holes, with Peter Uihlein, Henrik Stenson and Branden Grace a shot behind on a crowded leaderboard.
Mickelson also birdied the 12th from 15 feet to move to within a shot of the lead shared by Grace and Stenson on the course, with France's Raphael Jacquelin joining Maybin on 13 under in the clubhouse thanks to an eagle on the last to complete a 65.
Fisher had briefly reached 14 under after his third birdie in a row on the third, but then dropped shots on the fifth and sixth to drop back into a six-way tie for fifth.
A birdie on the 18th gave Mickelson a flawless round of 66 and the clubhouse lead on 14 under par as he seeks a first individual win on British soil, just days before The Open Championship at Muirfield.
"The last 11 holes were a lot of fun," said the 43 year old, who was part of the American team that won the Dunhill Cup at St Andrews in 1996.
"The first seven holes I got off to a bit of a slow start and I was really behind when I needed to make up ground.
"On the eighth I tried to slow it down and be patient, got one putt to drop and that seemed to ignite the rest of the round. I think I will be a couple back (at the end of the day) but I've got myself in a good position for tomorrow and I am really looking forward to it."
