Phil Mickelson feels he will need to be at his best to beat the challenge of Henrik Stenson in the final round of the Open Championship.
Mickelson, who led after rounds one and two, will go into the last day at Royal Troon trailing new leader Stenson by one stroke after shooting 70 on Saturday.
The five-time major winner felt he fell below the standards he set earlier in the tournament and caused controversy late in the day when he swore at photographers on the 18th fairway.
"That is so s*****," a TV microphone caught him saying. "I don't believe it. I get you have got to cover it but why (have) you got to interfere with it?"
After a shortened round of media interviews, Mickelson said he would be heading off to work on his game to make the improvements necessary for Sunday.
Mickelson, who opened with a stunning 63 on Thursday, said: "I was off today. I didn't have my best stuff. I was a little bit jumpy and my rhythm wasn't very good today.
"I found a way to settle in and hit some shots and then find ways to make pars on the times that I hit some poor shots.
"Today could have been a day that got away from me, instead I shot under par and kept myself right in heading into tomorrow's final round, so I'm proud of that.
"Andrew Getson (coach) and I have some work to do to get my swing back to where it was the first couple days, and it shouldn't be too far off.
"I'd love to play tomorrow's final round the way I did the first two and give myself a shot.
"I know it's not far off because I was hitting it so good. I've been hitting it so good for so long, that I just think one day is an anomaly and hopefully I'll get dialled back in tomorrow."
Stenson, who ended the day on 12 under, and Mickelson jostled for the lead throughout an intriguing third round.
The Swede ended it on top but both took their turns to head the leaderboard and, with the nearest challenger five shots further back, the pair's duel looks set to continue.
But asked if it was almost a match play situation, Mickelson said: "No, not at all, no, I don't see that."
Source: PA
