Safeway Open: Russell Knox two back as trio lead on PGA Tour

Knox and Mark Anderson are the only players who didn't drop a shot in the first three rounds – 16 B Stuard (US), J Hahn (US), C Percy (Aus); -15 K Ventura (Nor), S Burns (US), H Higgs (US); -14 E Grillo (Arg), S Cink (US), D Ghim (US), DJ Trahan (US), R Knox (Sco) Selected others: -13 B Taylor (Eng); -8 P Mickelson (USA)

Scotsman Russell Knox is two strokes off the lead on the final round of the opening event of the PGA Tour of the season, the Safeway Open.

The 35-year-old number 208 in the world, in search of his third PGA Tour win, has yet to drop another chance and his two under 70 took him to 14 under for the event.

American Brian Stuard, five overnight, birdied the last for a 66 and led with James Hahn and Cameron Percy.

Englishman Ben Taylor, 28, is down 13 after a second consecutive round of 67.

Taylor, looking for a first summit -10 finish, shares 12th place after three birdies on nine each in round three at the Silverado Resort in Napa Valley, California.

The final round starts with 17 players, all within three shots of the lead, including 2009 Open Champion Stewart Cink

Five-time big winner Phil Mickelson kept a bogey off his card, but his fixed 70 was only good enough for a 43rd share, eight shots back.

"This is the worst I've played in the last three months," complained Mickelson before next week's US Open, where he finished second six times but never won.