Mickelson also produced his lowest round in three years to cut a swath through the Texas field and finish the tied with fellow American Scott Verplank (65) on 13-under par.
Phil Mickelson naturally pleased after a course record equalling 63.
The four times Major winning Mickelson left playing companion Lee Westwood in his wake with nine birdies including three in succession from the eight hole.
In fact, at the par four sixth hole when Mickelson chipped-in for par, Westwood’s caddy Billy Foster got down on both knees and began bowing to the southpaw star as Westwood looked on smiling.
“Today my game just felt great and I had just one hiccup and that was on the sixth and I managed to salvage that with a chip-in,” said Mickelson.
Phil Mickelson swampped by young autograph seekers.
“I saw what Billy was doing and he’s a great guy, and that’s the type of guy he is.”
Mickelson, who is presently ranked No. 6 in the world, then grabbed a share of the course record by landing a 9-iron to three foot and a tally of 27 putts.
Mickelson has not won anywhere since Augusta last year and if he were to win in Houston later day, he would become the first player in five years to win the penultimate event before the year’s first Major.
The last person was Mickelson who captured the 2006 BellSouth (one word) Classic.
“It feels good to get a good round under my belt,” he said.
“It reminded of how I played when I won in Atlanta the week before I won the Masters in ’06 so if I were to win tomorrow it can’t be a bad thing.”
Westwood, who needs to finish first or second to get back to Number One, slumped under the weight of two back nice double bogeys.
Westwood, who went head-to-head with Mickelson in last year’s final round at Augusta, signed for a 72 to tumble well down the board.
And three straight closing bogeys spoilt Padraig Harrington’s victory efforts.
The still unshaven Harrington had grabbed six earlier birdies to move to within one shot of Mickelson with three holes to play.
But the triple Major winning Dubliner missed the green well right of the par three, 16th for bogey and was then well left of the cart path at the next for a second successive dropped shot.
Harrington then put his tee shot at 18 into the water down the left side and after taking a drop found the green and two-putted for a double bogey six and a round of 70 for a nine-under par total.
“It was a frustraing finish but the only good thing was that it wasn’t on a Sunday, so I have at least another day to come back from it,” he said.
“It was a pity and it’s just that I got a little frustrated during my round and I felt I was getting a bit defensive when defense would have down well for the last couple of hole.”
Bernie McGuire in Houston, Texas
