Stenson grabs lead, Mickelson follows

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson leads the British Open by a single shot from Phil Mickelson after the third round following his superb 68 yesterday.
 Stenson, bidding to win his first major at the age of 40, had five birdies and two bogeys in his three-under-par round to move to 12-under for the championship. That gave him a one-stroke advantage over Mickelson, who had been in front after the first two rounds but was overtaken after shooting a one-under 70 to sit at 11-under overall.
 Mickelson, the 2013 champion, had three birdies but dropped shots at the 14th and 17th cost him the lead and he only saved par at the last after finding himself in a greenside bunker.
 It appears poised for a two-way shoot-out between them for the Claret Jug in today’s final round with Bill Haas of the United States leading the chasing pack at six-under. Haas shot 69, while England’s Andrew Johnston had a 70 and is fourth at five under par.
 It was a case of parry and thrust from the American and the Swede as Royal Troon showed its teeth for the second day running, with the winds whipping up to 25mph on the west coast of Scotland and making good scoring extremely tough.
 Mickelson, 46, who has led the championship since day one, made an early birdie at the third but that was matched by his Swedish playing partner who had also picked up a shot at the first.
 Stenson then nosed in front of the five-times major winner when he birdied the fourth but a bogey at the sixth for the world number six meant he dropped back to 11-under alongside Mickelson.
 The 2013 Open champion then had a big stroke of fortune at Troon’s signature eighth hole. His tee shot at the Postage Stamp seemed destined for a trap before it spun back and avoided the bunker.
 Stenson, still chasing his first major triumph, was not so lucky, his effort did find sand and a bogey dropped him to 10-under.
 Mickelson, looking slightly the steadier of the two leaders, then rolled in three nerve-tingling putts at the 10th, 11th and 12th to remain one in front at 11-under.
 Inspired by the fans crying out his nickname ‘Beef, Beef’ at almost every hole, crowd favourite Andrew Johnston was flying the flag for Britain at fourth spot.