Mickelson, Singh among 3-way tie for lead

Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh slugged it out in the trees and on the greens Saturday throughout an up-and-down day at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, until they wound up in a tie for the lead with a far more conventional Lee Westwood.

Mickelson went six straight holes without hitting a fairway, then poured it on late with three straight birdies until he finished with a bogey from the fairway for a 2-under-par 68.

Singh twice missed par putts from inside 31/2 feet, but he chipped in from a scary lie above the third hole and managed a 69. Westwood drove the ball as well as he has and made long putts for birdie and par on his way to a 67.

They all were at 8-under 202 and gave this World Golf Championship a truly global feel – three players from three parts of the world, each seeking his first WGC title.

One shot behind was Stuart Appleby of Australia, the only player to compete in all 29 of these events since they began 10 years ago.

Women’s British Open

Yuri Fudoh of Japan shot a 3-under 69 to lead by one stroke after the third round in Sunningdale, England.

Fudoh, who qualified for the tournament by finishing in the top 15 of the championship a year ago at St. Andrew’s, is at 13-under 203 and in sight of her first major title.

Ji-Yai Shin of South Korea (70) is second after making a bogey at the 18th. Shin drove her tee shot into the rough, then pulled her second shot into the gallery. Taking a drop, she pitched 20 feet past the hole and then missed the par putt.

Fudoh was the leading money winner on the Japanese LPGA from 2000-05 and has won 45 tournaments in her home country. She is using veteran caddie Peter Coleman, who helped Bernhard Langer win two Masters titles.

“He has helped on the distance and I think 50 percent of what I have done is because of the caddie,” Fudoh said through an interpreter.

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., shot a 2-over 74 and is tied for 54th at even-par 216.

U.S. Senior Open

Eduardo Romero of Argentina grabbed the 54-hole lead in Colorado Springs, Colo., with a 5-under 65.

“Fantastic round. I played great today,” said Romero, whose three-day total of 9-under 201 is two shots ahead of Fred Funk (69), who relinquished the lead with three bogeys on the back nine, and three ahead of John Cook (66).

Tom Kite (71) is in fourth, eight shots back and the only other golfer under par for the tournament.

PGA Tour

Parker McLachlin made a 9-foot eagle putt and shot a 6-under 66 to take a six-stroke lead into the final round of the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open in Reno, Nev.

McLachlin, who opened with a 68 and tied the course record Friday with a 62, added five birdies and his first bogey in two days to set the 54-hole record of 20-under 196 at Montreux Golf & Country Club.

England’s Brian Davis, who eagled the 616-yard ninth when he drove the ball 342 yards then hit his second shot 266 yards to within 6 feet of the pin, also carded a 68 on his 34th birthday to move into second place at 14-under 202.