Phil Mickelson missed the best round of his career by a shot but set a 54-hole tournament scoring record at the PGA Compaq Classic in New Orleans and still did not feel he was at his best.
With low scores the norm at the English Turn Golf and Country Club, Mickelson carded an eight-under-par 64 to open a three-shot lead over Harrison Frazar.
After opening his first Tour event in a month with consecutive 66s, Mickelson fell just one stroke off the best round of his career and finished the third round on 20-under at 196.
"I don't feel like I'm firing on all cylinders right now," said Mickelson.
"But as the week has progressed, I have really started to strike it much better."
Mickelson was a stroke off the lead when he teed off, as former NCAA champion Charles Howell shot one of the day's three 63s to grab the clubhouse lead with a 13-under 203.
David Toms also carded a 63 and is tied for fourth at 202 with second-round co-leader Brian Gay.
They are one shot behind Ernie Els of South Africa, whose 65 placed him third, five shots behind Mickelson.
Frazar feels he is close to his first career title, but knows only too well what can go wrong.
Last year, he had a one-shot lead before double-bogeying the 17th en route to a third-place finish, and in 1999 he finished second to two-time reigning champion Carlos Franco of Paraguay.
"I think that if I'm learning anything, that nobody wins a golf tournament by stepping outside of themselves and doing something that's out of charachter, if you know what I mean," said Frazar.
"You have to play your game to the best of your ability and hope that your game at its best is better than everybody else's at their best." PA