A round of 67 saw Phil Mickelson move up from a two-shot deficit against Tiger Woods to a two-shot lead after 54 holes of the HSBC Champions tournament on Saturday.

A rivalry that was renewed six weeks ago at the Tour Championship in Atlanta continued halfway around the world in China when Woods stalled with pars and Mickelson poured in three birdies over his last five holes for his five-under round and a two-shot lead over both Woods and Nick Watney at Sheshan International.

In the quiet of the clubhouse dining room, Mickelson could only imagine what it would be like on Sunday, when he will play in the final group with Woods for the first time in more than four years.

Smiling and raising his glass in a mock toast, he said: "And he's got to give me one shot a side. I know we are both looking forward to it. I think it will be a fun day, and we are excited to be playing in the last group here in China."

It will be the first time the world's top two players have been in the final group since the famous "Duel at Doral" in 2005, when Woods rallied from a two-shot deficit in the final round to win by one stroke.

Woods wasn't terribly pleased to be in this position. He took his first outright lead of the tournament with a fifteen-foot birdie putt on the eighth hole, and after another fifteen-foot birdie putt on the tenth, his lead was up to two.

That turned out to be his last birdie of the round, however. He missed one opportunity on the par-five fourteenth, badly missed on a six-foot birdie putt on the sixteenth and finished his round by driving into the rough and hitting his approach into the bunker on the par-five eighteenth, having to save par for a two-under 70.

"I didn't putt as well as I did the first two days," said Woods, who opened with 67-67. "And the back nine, I didn't take advantage of the par fives and sixteen, I hit it in there stiff and missed that one as well. Consequently, I was three shots worse."

Watney, who completes an all-Californian final group, produced a three-putt bogey on the seventeenth before sinking a 50-foot eagle on the eighteenth for a 70.

"I suppose I'm kind of the odd man out there," Watney said. "But the goal in golf is always to improve, and tomorrow will be a big step for me. Regardless of the outcome, I'll get a chance to watch these guys and see how they handle themselves, and hopefully, I can handle myself well, too."

Ryan Moore, who qualified for the HSBC Champions by winning for the first time on the PGA Tour in August, had a 70 and was another shot back.

Lee Westwood, who is leading the Race to Dubai on the European Tour, did himself a huge favour with eight birdies in a round of 65, leaving him well in the mix.