DULUTH, Georgia -- Things are going so well for Phil Mickelson in the BellSouth Classic that he embraced his first adversity in the tournament as yet another positive

Mickelson was on pace to challenge the lowest 54-hole total in PGA TOUR history before he lost three strokes on his last three holes Saturday, forcing him to settle for a 5-under 67 and an eight-stroke lead at 21-under 195.

A double bogey on 18, where he twice found the water, was his worst hole in three rounds. He finished four strokes off the best 54-hole total on a par-72 course in PGA TOUR history -- Gay Brewer's 25-under 191 in the 1967 Pensacola Open.

Was Mickelson disappointed?

"Actually, no," he said. "It's probably a positive because the last thing I want to do is have a record or be thinking about it. That's not my goal right now. It's to get my game shot and get some momentum, not just to finish this tournament properly, but for next week."

Mickelson is in position for a wire-to-wire victory that would affirm his status as one of the favorites in the Masters next week.

Thanks in part to the bogey on 16 and double bogey on 18 Saturday, Mickelson says he can focus on his game instead of worrying about chasing the best 72-hole total on a par-72 course in PGA TOUR history -- 29-under 259 by Joe Durant in the 90-hole Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 2001, matched by Tim Herron in the same tournament in 2003.

Mickelson, who matched the TPC Sugarloaf course record with a 63 in the first round, would need a 64 Sunday for a 259.

"The record is going to be pretty much out of reach," he said. "I'm not going to be thinking about it. I'm just going to be worried about keeping the ball in play and hitting some good shots and making birdies."

Mickelson said the double bogey "slaps me in the face and says this tournament is not over. You've got to play it smart. You've got holes that can come up and bite you, just like 18 bit me today, and that tells me I've got to be sharp on every single shot."

Jonathan Byrd and 2004 winner Zach Johnson are tied for second at 203. Jose Maria Olazabal is fourth at 12 under 204.

Johnson shot a 64 on Saturday to reach 13 under. Johnson also was at 203 through three rounds in 2004, but that year the total was good for a three-shot lead.

The difference, of course, is Mickelson.

"That's just freaky good golf," Johnson said. "You want to say there's always a chance, but it's hard to say in this situation. You have to keep playing."

Byrd shot a 66 and joins Mickelson as the only players with three rounds in the 60s.

Mickelson was 24 under and up by 12 before a bogey on 16. He then found water on two straight shots trying to reach the 18th green but salvaged the double bogey with a 26-foot putt.

The late problems kept Mickelson from becoming the first player in six years to lead by at least 10 strokes entering the final round of a tournament. Tiger Woods led by 10 entering the final round of the 2000 U.S. Open.

The eight-stroke lead is the largest in the tournament's history.

Mickelson has been attacking tournament records all week. He matched the course record with a first-round 63. He then set a tournament record with his 16-under 128 total through 36 holes.

On Saturday, he matched the tournament's lowest 54-hole total. Larry Nelson was 21 under at 195 through three rounds of the 1998 BellSouth.

"He's obviously driving it very well and hitting his irons very well and putting well," Johnson said. "That's a hard combination to beat, especially when you combine his talent in general and his experience."

Added Johnson: "I feel that what he's doing right now is actually kind of a positive for us. It makes us work harder because you know you can play better."

Barring a collapse Sunday, Mickelson will become the first three-time BellSouth champion. He also won in 2000 and says the tournament is a perfect way to prepare for the Masters, which Mickelson claimed in 2004 for his first major title.

The BellSouth tournament is moving to May, beginning in 2007, as tournament organizers hope for better weather. This year's tournament has had no weather delays, though there was light rain at the start of play Saturday.

If the greens were softer from the rain, Mickelson adjusted quickly. He began his string of five straight birdies on No. 3.

He lost a stroke with a bogey on No. 8 but recovered with a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 9 for a 31 on the front 9. After a short birdie putt on the par 3 11, he chipped over a bunker to 2 feet of the hole on No. 13, setting up another birdie.

The low 72-hole total in the BellSouth is 23-under 265 by Andy Bean in 1979 and Dave Barr in 1987 -- each at the Atlanta Country Club.

With Mickelson so far ahead, the competition of note is for second place.

Doug Barron shot a 65 Saturday and was tied for fifth at 206 with Steve Flesch (67) and J.J. Henry (72). Retief Goosen had a 69 and was eighth at 208.

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