(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-11-11 22:11

SHANGHAI - World number two Phil Mickelson wobbled late in his front nine on Sunday, bringing his lead back to two shots just as he looked to be cruising to victory at the HSBC Champions.

With three birdies in the bag and a five-stroke lead at the seventh, the three-times major winner seemed to have an unassailable lead but bogeys at the eighth and ninth holes reduced his score to 14-under-par.

Big-hitting Ross Fisher had the better front nine of the two Britons playing with Mickelson, mixing two birdies with two bogeys in windy conditions to turn around at even par in second place on 12-under.

Mickelson's fellow American Kevin Stadler, the leader after the first two rounds, was third on eight-under after dropping three shots with just the one birdie through 10 holes.

Fisher's compatriot Paul Casey, who hit a 66 on Saturday to secure a place in the leading group for the final round, had a miserable morning with four bogeys.

The 30-year-old Englishman dropped to a share of fourth place with three-times major winner Vijay Singh, British Open champion Padraig Harrington and South Africa's Andrew McLardy.

Mickelson was forced to take two tee shots at the seventh after his first drive disappeared into the garden of one of Tuscan-style villas that surround the Sheshan course.

Despite a fine chip to a couple of feet, he surrendered a shot there and another when he found a bunker at the ninth.

Fisher, 26, continued to impress with his tidy game and almost matched Mickelson's chip over the stream at the eighth to pick up a shot and remain in the hunt for what would be a sensational victory.

South Korean defending champion Yang Yong-eun, who shared fifth place with four other players going into the final day, was earlier disqualified for signing for the wrong score in the third round.