Mickelson finishes strongly to lead in China

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - World number two Phil Mickelson will take a two-stroke lead into the final day of the $5 million HSBC Champions after another strong finish gave him a four-under-par 68 in the third round on Saturday.

The 37-year-old American mixed three birdies with a couple of bogeys on the front nine but picked up three more shots after the turn to finish on 14-under for the tournament.

Britain's Ross Fisher carded a third successive 68 for sole possession of second spot, a shot ahead of compatriot Paul Casey, who hit a barnstorming 66 to finish on 11-under.

Overnight leader Kevin Stadler had a 73 but remains in contention a shot behind Casey in fourth.

"Towards the end I steadied it a little bit and had some good birdies coming in," Mickelson told reporters.

"It was a good way to finish."

Mickelson got off to a good start with a birdie at the second and topped the leaderboard for the first time this week when Stadler found a bunker for his second bogey of the day at the third.

But it was after the turn that the American, who sank four birdies in the last five holes on Friday, really hit his stride and a 30-foot birdie putt at the 15th put him clear.

Mickelson's reward for taking on the wind and water at the 18th was an eagle putt and even though he missed that, he did snare the final birdie.

"It's going to be a tough day tomorrow," he said.

"But I'd certainly rather be in front than trying to make up ground ... This is my first time in China and I would love nothing more than to come out on top."

GOOD ENOUGH

Fisher, who secured his first European Tour title at the Dutch Open in August, was delighted with another consistent display after picking up four birdies in an error-free round.

"To go out and play with guys like Phil Mickelson was tough," said the 26-year-old, who has dropped only three shots all week.

"But he was chatting a lot and helped me to relax and made me realize I'm good enough to be out there with them."

The highlight for Fisher was a birdie at the eighth. Having been forced to play his ball back onto fairway from the rough as his playing partners laid up in front of a stream, he hit the ball a full 235 yards and drained the eight-foot putt.

"I just hit a pure five wood," he said. "To get up there and knock it in for a four and not a five was massive.

"I'm very confident about how I'm playing but obviously I'm going to have to have a brilliant round to win."

Casey's seven birdies briefly gave him the lead and but for a single bogey at the 15th and a few narrowly missed putts he would have threatened the course record of 64.

"It could have been anything," he said.

"I was a little lucky today. I had three hole-outs from off the green, two chip-ins and the whole bunker shot. Sometimes it happens, but it really got my round going."

Fiji's Vijay Singh, Ireland's British Open champion Padraig Harrington and South Korean defending champion Yang Yong-eun were among five players sharing fifth place seven strokes off the pace.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)