The Associated Press

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Phil Mickelson was eager to put his poor 2003 season behind him. Through three days of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, he's well on his way.

Mickelson shot an 8-under 64 Friday to go to 21-under and take the third-round lead. He had a 68 in his first round of the season, followed by a 63 the second day of the 90-hole Hope.

Coming off a winless streak of some 18 months, Mickelson knocked his drives mostly down the middle and was deadly accurate with his irons and putter while playing at PGA West.

Mickelson, the 2002 Hope champion who has slipped from second to 16th in the world rankings, leads 1988 champion Jay Haas and Ben Crane by two shots. "I've been so looking forward for the year to start and this tournament to come around," said Mickelson, who dropped to 38th on the earnings list last year after being second for three consecutive seasons.

"To have the first three rounds of the year be as low as they were is very encouraging for the work I put in during the offseason."

He tinkered with his swing last year but went back to basics this winter. "I can see it paying off in fairways hit through better swing mechanics. I can see it paying off with more birdies with wedges because I'm having better distance control," he said. "My putting has been much better, and consequently, I've been scoring a lot better."

He rolled in one birdie putt of 18 feet and two others from 15 feet.

Haas, who turned 50 last month but is in no hurry to join the senior tour, also had a third-round 64 to go to 19-under 197. In addition to winning the Hope 16 years ago, he was runner-up to Mike Weir last year.

Robert Gamez had a tour record-tying 27 on the front nine and shot a 12-under 60 - one off the 18-hole record - to go to 16 under.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: James Mason topped the leaderboard at 7 under early in the suspended first round of the MasterCard Championship.

The round was suspended for 1 1/2 hours because of rain and lightening at the oceanside Hualalai Golf Club. When play resumed, 12 of the record 39 players were not able to finish because of darkness.

They are scheduled to complete play today before the second round in the 54-hole event.

Mason opened with a 65 to take a one-stroke lead.