Mickelson one shot clear at the turn

AUGUSTA, Georgia, Apr 9 (Reuters) Former champion Phil Mickelson moved one shot clear of a congested leaderboard midway through the US Masters final round today.

The American left-hander birdied the seventh and eighth holes before reaching the turn at six under par at a sun-drenched Augusta National.

His playing partner Fred Couples, bidding to become the oldest U.S. Masters champion, was a further stroke back in a tie for second with Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal.

Couples was two under for the round while in-form Olazabal was on course for the best score of the day after recording an eagle-three at the 15th.

Masters champion in 1994 and 1999, Olazabal reeled off five birdies and one bogey to reach the turn in four-under 32.

He then struck a superb second shot from 245 yards to three feet on 15 to join Couples at five under.

World number two Vijay Singh, the 2000 winner, was in a share of fourth place at four under with American Chad Campbell and South African Tim Clark.

Fijian Singh and Clark had completed 10 holes while Campbell was through nine.

World number one and holder Tiger Woods, chasing a fifth green jacket, was two under for the day after 10 and not hitting his approach shots close enough for good birdie opportunities.

GRIPPING FINISH The 70th US Masters was set for a gripping finish with 10 players no more than three strokes behind leader Mickelson at the start of the final round.

Mickelson returned a two-under-par 70 in gusting winds on a chilly morning for a 54-hole total of four-under 212.

Woods holed an eight-foot birdie putt at the last for a 71 to finish at two under, level with Singh, who returned a 73.

Couples birdied two of the last four holes for a 72 and a share of second place at three under with Campbell.

The veteran Couples is aiming to replace Jack Nicklaus as the oldest Masters winner.

Nicklaus was 46 years two months and 23 days when he clinched a record sixth green jacket in 1986.

Reuters VJ VP0340