Mickelson seizes lead on Champions Tour

Phil Mickelson needed only three holes to go from lagging behind to seizing control with an eaglebirdie-birdie stretch that carried him to a 5-under 67 and a two-shot lead Saturday in the Constellation Furyk & Friends Invitational.

Making only his fourth PGA Tour Champions start — and second this year — Mickelson will be going after his third title on the 50-and-older circuit.

Miguel Angel Jimenez (65), Steve Flesch (66) and Matt Gogel (69) were two shots behind at Timuquana Country Club.

Flesch had run off three straight birdies when Mickelson took over.

First, he hit 7-iron to about 15 feet for eagle on the par-5 13th hole.

Mickelson followed that with a 40-foot birdie putt across the green at the par-3 14th, and then he made birdie on the par-5 15th hole.

Jin Young Ko picked up her fourth birdie on the par-5 16th and closed with two pars for a 2-under 69, giving her a four-shot lead

Saturday at the Founders Cup at Mountain Ridge. Saturday was her 13th consecutive round in the 60s, one off the LPGA record Annika Sorenstam set during a four-tournament stretch in 2005, when she had 10 wins and was halfway to the calendar Grand Slam.

NFL: The 49ers placed star tight end George Kittle on injured reserve Saturday with a calf injury that has been bothering him for weeks. Kittle played through the injury last week but was unable to practice at all this week. The Niners decided to shut him down for at least the next three games in hopes he can be completely healed for the second half of the season.

Soccer: Denmark added to the most perfect campaign in World Cup qualifying on Saturday and England also eased toward winning its group. Wins for Scotland, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine moved each closer to at least a place in the playoffs next year with the finals tournament in Qatar in sight.