Little-known American Tom Hoge (69) was alone in second, with Mickelson, a five-times major winner who next week will head to Oakmont searching for a first U.S. Open victory after a record six runner-up spots, joint third on five-under after a 65.
"I am putting well, no question," Mickelson told PGA Tour radio. "I didn't strike it as well as I have been this year for the first couple of days. It's just a fraction off and I'm going to go work on it now.
"Hopefully I can figure out what the difference is because if I can hit a few more greens, the way I am putting, I should have a good chance (of winning)."
Equal third with Mickelson were fellow Americans Brooks Koepka (65) and long-hitting Dustin Johnson, who got to eight under before dropping three shots in his last two holes for a 69.
Johnson, the 2012 champion, bogeyed the 17th after bunkering his approach before running up a double at the last, where he three-putted from seven feet.
"I played a lot better than my score," said Johnson, a nine-times winner on the PGA Tour. "Making bogey and double on the last two holes from the middle of the fairway is not a very good finish. I just made a couple bad swings.
"I feel like I am playing really well, I got a lot of confidence in my game on this golf course, I just need to go out and shoot another good score tomorrow."
Berger, whose father Jay was head coach of the 2012 U.S. Olympic tennis team, was delighted to go bogey-free after scrambling well while relying on a red-hot putter.
"My speed control has been great and on the greens, I feel like I am just at home," said the 23-year-old from Florida. "I love the Bermuda (grass) and I don't even read grain here.
"I just look at it and I see it, it's just from years and years of putting on it. Overall just excited to play a bogey-free round."
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Andrew Both)
Share
