Phil Mickelson moves four shots clear

Phil Mickelson followed up his second round 60 with a more workmanlike five-under 66 at the Phoenix Open on Saturday to take a four-shot lead over South Korea's Kevin Na.

Mickelson, who equalled the course record at the Tournament Players Club in Scottsdale on Friday, hit six birdies, offset by a single bogey, to leave him on 14-under 199 heading into Sunday.

"It was a fun round and there was a lot of people out there," the left-handed Mickelson said.

"It felt like I shot over par compared to yesterday, but it was good enough to get in the lead and I'm looking forward to Sunday's round. It's so much fun to play in the last group in this event." After closing Friday's round with five consecutive birdies, Mickelson got his day off to a great start with a birdie at the first before picking up shots at the fifth and sixth.

The U.S. Masters champion dropped a shot at the 10th before quickly recovering, closing his round with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18.

"The birdie on 17 for me was the biggest one because I can drive the green," Mickelson said.

"You feel like you need to make birdie there, so I don't feel like I gave a shot back. If I don't birdie 18, you feel like you give one back.

"I made the putt. It doesn't change my mindset any, if I was three ahead or four ahead, but it's nice to have that extra shot in hand."

Na, who began the day level with Mickelson, also had three birdies on the front nine. However, the 21-year-old could not keep pace with the leader after the turn, his two birdies offset by three bogeys.

"It was a long, tough day," Na said.

"I felt like I played really well. I think the only hole I'd want to start replaying is 15.

"I was playing solid until right up there. But I think from there things went a little wrong. From there, with the crowd pulling for Phil so much, it kind of shook me up a little bit and affected me on the last couple (of) holes." K.J. Choi, also South Korean, Harrison Frazar, Kenny Perry and Steve Flesch sit one shot further adrift at nine-under 204.

David Toms and Mark Calcavecchia, a three-times winner here, are on 205.

Calcavecchia, whose three victories have come in different decades, and Scott McCarron had the day's top rounds with bogey-free six-under 65s.

World number one Vijay Singh moved up the leaderboard with a five-under 66 that left him 10 shots off the lead on 209.

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