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Mickelson moves two shots ahead

Phil Mickelson continued his strong start to the season in the third round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on Friday, shooting an eight-under-par 64 to take a two-stroke lead.

Playing in his first tournament of the 2004 PGA Tour, the world number 16 stands on 21-under-par 195 in the 90-hole event held over four courses.

Last year's runner-up, Jay Haas (64) and Ben Crane (65) are joint second at 19-under 197.

Twelve-time PGA Tour winner Paul Azinger (66) and Todd Fischer, who shot a nine-under 63, are at 18-under-par, three shots off the lead.

Kenny Perry (69), Skip Kendall (68), Kirk Triplett (68) and Australian Geoff Ogilvy (63) are in a tie for sixth place at 17-under-par.

Robert Gamez had the low round of the tournament, shooting a 12-under-par 60, which included a nine-under-par 27 on his inward nine.

Defending champion Mike Weir shot a four-under-par 68 and is currently tied for 41st at 11-under-par, 10 shots behind Mickelson.

Winner of this event in 2002, Mickelson picked up from where he left on in Thursday's second round, putting together nine birdies against a lone bogey -- on the par-five 18th when his second shot found water.

The dropped shot was just his second in 54 holes and over the last 36 holes he has amassed 19 birdies.

"To have the first three rounds of the year be as low as they were is very encouraging for the time I've put in the off-season," Mickelson said of the best 54-hole stretch of his career.

"I can see it paying off in fairways hit through better swing mechanics; I can see it paying off with more birdies with wedges because I'm having better distance control.

"My putting has been much better and consequently, I've been scoring a lot better."

Winless since the Canon Greater Hartford Open over 18 months ago, the Californian left-hander is in a position he has not been of late -- in the lead.

With 21 PGA Tour wins under his belt, Mickelson is in a strong position to stay in contention.

"I don't really think about the results," Mickelson said.

"It's been such a long time that I've been in serious contention or that I've been up top of the leaderboard that I'm just pleased to have opportunities to win and I hope that I take advantage of it."

In Saturday's fourth round, Mickelson will play at Bermuda Dunes Country Club, a course with a scoring average of 68.427 over the first three days.

"The way I look at it is that there are going to be a lot of birdies this weekend," Mickelson said.

"I feel very confident that if I continue to drive the ball the way I have been and hit wedges close, I'll make my share of birdies, as well."

One of those chasing Mickelson is the 50-year-old Haas, who contended for the title a year ago and overcame a poor start to Friday's third round to move into contention. He opened his round with a double bogey on the first hole after hitting his ball out of bounds but remained calm.

"I was out [of bounds] by about a foot, I guess," Haas said of his 8-iron second shot that missed the green and rolled out of bounds.

"I felt like the boxer that came out the first round to touch gloves and got decked and I was not feeling too good after that hole.

"Then I made two nice birdies at two and three and just kind of kept hanging in there and just kept hitting it close and making some putts."

Haas used the experience of last year's finish as a springboard to earn over $2.5 million in earnings, his best year on Tour by over $1.5 million.

Haas believes he can continue to compete.

"I really played well here last year," Haas said.

"I feel confident. I don't feel much different physically or mentally, so I guess I don't have any excuse to not do well just because I had a birthday."

The four par-72 courses being used for the event are PGA West, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes and La Quinta with the final round played at PGA West.

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