South Africa's Retief Goosen treated the field at the BellSouth Classic to a superb display of putting yesterday, needing just 22 of them en route to a four-under-par 68 and a two-stroke lead over Phil Mickelson.
Goosen, ranked number eight in world, posted the day's low round and sits at 14-under-par, while overnight co-leader Mickelson turned in a 71 on the par-72, 7,293-yard TPC at Sugarloaf to stay in contention.
Denmark's Thomas Bjorn is three shots back at 11-under-par, while Canadian Mike Weir and second round co-leader Steve Elkington are four shots back at 10-under-par.
Padraig Harrington, who had contended the lead on Friday after a superb 65, shot a modest 73 and is tied for sixth with Bob Tway at nine-under
Goosen, the reigning US Open winner, one-putted the seventh through 15th greens during a round that featured seven birdies. Five of the birdies came during his amazing putting stretch that helped him go from three shots back of Mickelson to four shots ahead.
"I'm pretty happy where I am," said Goosen after his third straight round in the 60s. "I've not been playing all that well this week, but like I said, I've been putting great, and that's why I am where I am."
Despite holding the lead and displaying a magical putting stroke this week, Goosen has been a bit erratic reaching the green.
"I've been struggling with my swing all week," Goosen said. "For some reason, I just can't get comfortable over the ball and struggling to make a good timing swing, so I've been struggling really with my timing."
Today’s final-round pairing will have an international flair with Goosen, Mickelson and Bjorn. Goosen and Mickelson will take varying approaches into the final 18.
Padraig Harrington tees off his final round at 11.23 a.m. local time.
While Goosen will attempt to deal with timing problems on his swing and rely on his putter, Mickelson will again come out swinging, especially on the par-fives.
This season, Mickelson ranks 17th on the PGA Tour in par-five birdie percentage at 48.5 percent.
"Every shot here has a certain risk and a certain reward to it, other than maybe a few tee shots where the fairways are pretty generous," he said. "For me to play well tomorrow, though, I have to capitalise on the par-fives. That's where I feel like I didn't do what I wanted to today."