Visiting American Phil Mickelson is on the verge of ending a 20-year European winless drought after moving to within two shots of the lead on day three of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

Mickelson joined tournament leader, Henrik Stenson in signing for a six under par 66 and move to a five way share of second place on 14-under par and just two shots behind the Swedish-born Stenson.

Stenson, 36 picked up seven birdies as he strives to win for a first time this year after being runner-up in April’s PGA Tour Shell Houston Open.

“I’m in a good spot at the moment and it would be the icing on the cake if I were to win tomorrow going into next week’s Open Championship,” said Stenson.

“It would be a great confidence boost heading to Muirfield and probably in the top three or if not the best Open venue as I will play as I was over playing the course last Sunday and Monday.

“So if I can play well tomorrow, and regardless if I win or not, it will be a big lift into The Open but a win is always a win and to win the Scottish Open would be very special.

The four-time major winning Mickelson pared his opening seven holes before completing the last 11 in six under par including three birdies in succession from the ninth hole on the Castle Stuart course.

Mickelson has just one victory in Europe and that was in 1993 in capturing a secondary Challenge Tour event near Euro Disney in France.

“Any victory over here would be terrific but then we are getting ahead of ourselves,” said Mickelson.

“There’s a packed leaderboard and it will take one good round of a shootout between 15 or 20 guys that are right there.

“I’m playing well and it feels terrific.  I would love to win here in the UK especially on a links golf course

Mickelson shares second place with South African Branden Grace (66), Denmark’s JB Hansen (69) and England’s John Parry (66).

Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin produced the lowest round of the day with an eight under par 64 to be tied in sixth place on 13-under par with Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin (65) and American Peter Uihlein (70).

While Stenson, Mickelson and Grace are already exempt into the British Open, Hansen, Parry, Maybin, Jacquelin and Uihlein will be seeking to secure victory that would see them also qualify.

Twenty-two players will go into the final round lying within six shots of the lead.