DiMarco and Kaye tied for lead

Chris DiMarco produced one of the best scores of the day, a seven-under-par 64, to join Jonathan Kaye at the top of the leaderboard after the third round of the $4 million Phoenix Open on Saturday.

DiMarco and Kaye, who carded a 66, were on 14-under 199, one shot ahead of second-round leader Phil Mickelson (68) at the TPC of Scottsdale.

Justin Leonard birdied the final six holes for a 66 and a share of fourth place on 202 with Germany's Bernhard Langer, Canada's Mike Weir and Ricky Barnes.

World number two Vijay Singh of Fiji and Spain's Sergio Garcia are in a tie for eighth position on 203 alongside Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson, Steve Flesch and Scott Verplank.

Singh, one of the back-nine starters, had a bogey-free 63 while Garcia fired a 65.

Like Leonard, Jacobson was six-under over his last six holes, with four birdies and an eagle.

DiMarco said the key to his round was staying out of trouble.

"I really never put myself in jeopardy to make a bogey," he told reporters.

"It was just kind of one of those rounds that every three holes I'd pick up another birdie, and before you knew it I was at the top of the leaderboard, which is where you want to be."

DiMarco's seven birdies all came inside the first 15 holes. He was close to making his only bogey at the 18th when he hit a seven-iron approach left of the green and chipped to within five feet, leaving a tough putt for par.

"It was nice to make that (putt) going into tomorrow," he said.

Mickelson, bidding to add the Phoenix to the Bob Hope Classic title he won last Sunday, blamed his 68 on poor putting.

"I thought I putted very well from six feet in. But my speed as I got outside of six feet on the greens I struggled with, and consequently didn't make any good birdie opportunities, other than short ones," said Mickelson.

A top-10 finish by Singh would continue a remarkable sequence by the 40-year-old, who has been placed no worse than 10th in his last 10 starts on the PGA Tour.

He has also had 13 top-10s in his last 14 events, the exception being a tie for 34th at the U.S. PGA Championship in August.

Singh only took 26 putts on Saturday after needing 29 and 30 respectively in the opening two rounds.

"I made a few more putts, I guess," said the Fijian. "I hit the ball a little better today."

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