Gay keeps lead at St. Jude, Mickelson 10 back

Brian Gay is 18 holes away from finishing off a dominating victory at the St. Jude Classic that would earn him a place in next week's US Open.

He shot a second consecutive 4-under 66 on Saturday to keep the lead by a stroke over Bryce Molder after the third round at the TPC Southwind.

Gay, who won at Hilton Head in April can earn an Open berth with a second win this year. He has just five bogeys this week, and his only one on Saturday came on 18 after his second shot from a fairway bunker hit the water. That dropped him to 14-under 196.

For someone who expected to be off next week after he missed qualifying by three strokes, Gay said he wasn't thinking about the Open yet.

"Not till you mention it. Not really. Not when I'm out there, I don't think about it. I mean it's a major. I'd love to play in it. I expected to be off next week ... I've got enough work to do here to not have to worry about that. Nothing I need to think about," Gay said.

Phil Mickelson shot a 68 and was 10 back at 206 in his first event since announcing his wife's diagnosis of breast cancer, and still wasn't happy with his putter.

"I haven't putted well the first three days. I feel like I've struck the ball well but have not been able to get it in the hole and shoot a number, a good low number and mostly because of the putter," Mickelson said. "I'll spend sometime on that in the next few days and should be able to get it ironed out for next week."