Golf Central

Phil Mickelson takes a shot lead into the final round after his second 65 of the week leaves him at 12-under, a shot clear of Rod Pampling, who shot a fantastic 63 to join Stephen Ames at 11-under. Others lurking in contention include Tim Clarke at 9-under and Ben Crane, Kevin Sutherland and Brian Gay at 7-under.

Lefty has woken up on Sunday ahead of the pack on 27 times in his PGA Tour career and coverted that lead 19 times. This tournament also has a predictable habit of delivering winners who either lead or were tied for the lead in each of the last six years.

With only three scores under par on a blustery Wentworth day, Robert Karlsson takes a four shot lead into Sunday at 11-under, with Miguel Angel Jimenez and Oliver Wilson at 7-under and Jyoti Randhawa, Daniel Vancsik and Paul McGinley on 6-under.

Last year, homeboy Ross Fisher fell from the sky and this time round it was Paul McGinley's turn after a gruesome 79. Karlsson has a more than decent record of converting a lead into the last round into a win.

It comes as something of a surprise when you recall he already has seven European Tour titles to his name and on the form he's shown over the past couple of months, he must be helping Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo to sleep a little easier at night.

Phil Mickelson is on top of a leaderboard for the first time in a while, after a second round 68 gave him a shot lead at 7-under from Matt Kuchar, Brian Gay and Johnson Wagner (6-under) and a handful at 5-under, including Vaughn Taylor and Stephen Ames.

Carrying five wedges in his bag, Lefty only needed to putt once on 11 of the 18 holes. Geoff Ogilvy shot a Friday best 64, while Jesper Parnevik, Rory Sabbatini, Tom Lehman, Jim Furyk, Chad Campbell and Steve Stricker were among the big names to miss the cut.

The Bet Detective will not be a happy man this weekend...