Mickelson passes Woods and Watney to grab lead at HSBC Champions

SHANGHAI -- American Phil Mickelson took the 54-hole lead in the WGC-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 there stiff and missed that one," Woods said. "Consequently, I was three shots worse. That's about right."

Woods and Mickelson also were paired in the final round at the Masters this year, when both lit up Augusta National with birdies until they ran out of holes. They also played together in the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship in 2007, which Mickelson won by four shots, although they weren't in the final group.

Watney continued to fall farther back with a three-putt bogey on the 17th, but the 28-year-old rolled in his long-range putt on the final hole to give the first WGC event in Asia an All-American final group.

"I thought I played pretty well overall, considering it was my first time playing with Tiger in a tournament, and I was happy that I was able to concentrate and play the shots I needed to play," Watney said. "Hopefully, at only two back, I might have a shot at the tournament, and I really can't wait."

America's Ryan Moore, who played alongside Woods and Watney, had a 70 and was at 11-under 205.

The best round belonged to England's Lee Westwood, who leads the Race to Dubai on the European Tour and did himself a huge favor by running off eight birdies in his 65. Westwood was at 10-under 206, and now can consider winning his first WGC event.

"This is a golf course that you can make up a lot of shots over a round," Westwood said.

Mickelson didn't have to make up that many, starting only one shot out of the lead. He was briefly tied for the lead on a couple of occasions with birdies early in the round, then seemed to stall on the back nine.

He came to life in the final hour, however. It started with a lob wedge he had to throw up into the strong wind, leaving him a 6-foot birdie putt. Then came a drive he smashed through fairway at the 15th, giving him only a 9-iron to 15 feet and another birdie that had Mickelson singing on the way to the next tee, "Somebody's got his putter back."

He missed opportunities on the next two holes, then finished with a pitch that brought an enormous gallery surrounding the 18th green to its feet. Woods had a good view of it all in the group behind him, but he couldn't answer.

The last time they competed against each other was the Tour Championship six weeks ago, when Mickelson won at East Lake with newfound confidence in his putting stroke, and Woods captured the FedExCup trophy.

Only one trophy is at stake Sunday.

"I know we are both looking forward to it," Mickelson said. "I think it will be a fun day, and we're excited to be playing in the last group here in China."

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