Phil leads Tiger by two with 67

SHANGHAI – American Phil Mickelson took the 54-hole lead in the HSBC Champions with a 5-under 67 on Saturday, setting up a final-round matchup with Tiger Woods in the last World Golf Championship of the year.

Gaining even more confidence in his putting, Mickelson strung together three birdies over the final five holes to turn a two-shot deficit into a two-shot lead over the back nine Saturday at Sheshan International.

Woods failed to make a birdie over the final eight holes for a 70, leaving him two shots behind. Woods was level with American Nick Watney, who holed a 50-foot eagle putt on the final hole for a 70.

Mickelson and Woods will be in the final group Sunday for the first time since the famous “Duel at Doral” in 2005, when Woods rallied from a two-shot deficit in the final round to win.

Mickelson, who was at 14-under 202, was the only player among the top 18 on the leaderboard Saturday to break 70. He made three birdies in his opening five holes and three birdies over his last five holes, his lone bogey coming at No. 9 that provided what he hopes is a good sign. Trapped in the bushes, Lefty inverted a wedge and blasted out right-handed to the fairway.

He hit a similar shot at Doral this year when he went on to win his first World Golf Championship.

“I thought that might have been a good omen, even though it led to a bogey,” Mickelson said.

Woods appeared to be in control with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 10th to build a two-shot lead. That was his last birdie of the round, however, as he twice missed good birdie chances in the final hour and closed out a frustrating round by hitting into the rough and the bunker on the par-5 18th and having to save par.

 “I didn’t take advantage of the par 5s and 16, I hit it in their stiff and missed,” Woods said.       (AP)