The Associated Press

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Kirk Triplett shot a 9-under 63 Saturday, remaining bogey-free in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and tying Phil Mickelson for the lead at 26 under.

Triplett has 24 birdies, an eagle and 47 pars through 72 holes in the 90-hole tournament. Mickelson, making his 2004 debut, shot a 67 at Bermuda Dunes but still saw his two-shot lead evaporate. He won the Hope in 2002.

Kenny Perry, the 1995 champion, had consecutive eagles in his second 64 of the tournament and was one shot behind the co-leaders at 25-under 263.

Triplett who won the Reno-Tahoe Open last year for his second tour victory, holed a bunker shot for an eagle on No. 5 at Indian Wells Country Club, and made a twisting 20-foot birdie putt on No. 11 to highlight his fourth round.

John Daly had a rare double eagle on No. 2 at PGA West. Daly holed his second shot from 220 yards on the 514-yard par 5. He shot a 72 and was 15 under.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Doug Tewell shot a bogey-free 7-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the season-opening MasterCard Championship. Tewell, bogey-free in both rounds, had five of his seven birdies on the back nine to finish with a tournament-record 15-under 129 total on the oceanside Hualalai course.

Honolulu resident Dave Eichelberger was second after a 65.

Defending champion Dana Quigley (65) and Fuzzy Zoeller (65) were three strokes off the pace. Jack Nicklaus had a 66 and was at 10-under 134, along with Bruce Fleisher (65), Tom Purtzer (67) and Gil Morgan (67). Nicklaus, who turned 64 Wednesday, holed a 38-foot eagle putt from the fringe on the 519-yard 14th.

DUNHILL CHAMPIONSHIP: Denmark's Soren Hansen shot a 7-under-par 65 and held a one-stroke lead after three rounds Johannesburg. Hansen was at 18-under 198, with Frenchmen Gregory Havret (64) and Raphael Jacquelin (68) a shot behind.

BRITISH OPEN: The Open is returning to Carnoustie in 2007. The Open was last played on the Scottish links course in 1999, and is remembered as the championship in which Jean Van Der Velde blew a three-stroke lead on the 72nd hole and lost a three-way playoff to Scotsman Paul Lawrie.