HADWIN STAYS CLOSE AT LA QUINTA

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Phil Mickelson made three long birdie putts on the back nine Saturday to take a two-stroke lead on Canadian Adam Hadwin into the final round of the Desert Classic.

Making his first start of the year, the 48-year-old Mickelson shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 on the Stadium Course at PGA

West to get to 22-under 194.

“I don’t know what to say,” Mickelson said. “I played OK and my goal or game plan of playing the Stadium Course is to actually hit drivers and to try to bomb it down there as close to the greens as you can . ... It seemed to play out OK and I gave myself a lot of good chances. I missed a few short putts ... but I also made a couple of long ones that were nice little bonuses.”

He topped the leaderboard for the third straight day after matching his career-low score with an opening 60 at La Quinta Country Club and shooting a 68 on Friday on PGA

West’s Nicklaus Tournament Course.

Hadwin, of Abbotsford, B.C., was second after a 65 on the Nicklaus layout. The Canadian has three straight top-six finishes in the event. He was second in 2017 after a third-round 59 at La Quinta and tied for third last year.

“Living in Phoenix these past few years, this is the golf that I play every day,” Hadwin said. “The greens are exactly what we play back in Scottsdale. So I would assume that might add to some of the comfort.”

Mickelson is making first competitive appearance since beating Tiger Woods in Las Vegas in November in a made-for-TV event.

Adam Long was third at 19 under after a 63 at La Quinta, and Steve Marino had a 67 on the Nicklaus layout to get to 18 under. Defending champion Jon Rahm was tied for seventh.