LA QUINTA, California — Five-time major champion Phil Mickelson fired six birdies in a six-under par 66 on Saturday to maintain his two-shot lead in the US PGA Tour Desert Classic.

The 48-year-old American heads into Sunday’s final round chasing a 44th US PGA Tour title and his third in this event in the California desert east of Los Angeles.

His 22-under par total of 194 put him two strokes clear of Canadian Adam Hadwin, who fired a bogey-free seven-under par 65 for 196.

Mickelson — who launched his week with a sparkling 60 on the La Quinta course, one of three in use this week — kept his foot on the accelerator on the tougher Stadium course Saturday, where a chip-in at the sixth hole launched a string of three straight birdies.

He was one stroke behind Hadwin’s clubhouse lead when he rolled in a 34-footer for birdie at the 13th and regained the lead when he drained an 11-footer at the 14th.

A brilliant shot from a greenside bunker at the par-five 16th gave him another birdie look but Mickelson was unable to capitalize.

But he picked up another stroke with a 36-foot birdie putt at the par-three 17th before capping his round with a par.

Hadwin fired his 65 on the Nicklaus course.

The Canadian is no stranger to strong performances in the Desert. He fired a 59 in the third round on the La Quinta layout on the way to a runner-up finish in 2017, and finished tied for third last year.

One-under through his first six holes, Hadwin birdied half of the remaining 14.

Hadwin was one stroke in front of American Adam Long, who had two eagles in a nine-under par 63 at La Quinta. American Steve Marino was a further stroke back on 198 after a 67 on the Nicklaus Tournament course.

Jazz wins Singapore Open

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond played a sparkling final round to win the Singapore Open golf with a record-breaking score Sunday, seeing off tough challenges from Paul Casey and Matthew Fitzpatrick.

Jazz was impressive on the front nine and made the turn with a three-stroke lead, before finishing with two birdies in the last three holes to seal victory.

The 23-year-old shot a final round 65 for an 18-under 266 total. It was the best four-round score in a Singapore Open staged at the Sentosa Golf Club, and beat Adam Scott’s record 17-under set in 2010.

The Thai player finished two shots ahead of world No. 24 Casey of England, who matched Jazz’s final round 65, and overnight leader Yoshinori Fujimoto of Japan, whose birdie at the last saw him card a 68.

Fitzpatrick, the world No. 40, snapped at Jazz’s heels for most of the last round but back-to-back bogeys on 15 and 16, where his drive ended up in a hazard, ended his challenge. He shot 69 for fourth place, four shots behind the winner.

The win was Jazz’s third on the Asian Tour. — Agencies