Phil Mickelson continued his dominance of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am with another 67 for a tournament three-round record of 20 under, earning a seven-shot lead.
As the stylish left-hander continued in his own world of birdies, current world number one Vijay Singh missed his first cut since February last year.
Singh carded a third successive 73 and was seven shots from the cut line.
European Tour stalwart Greg Owen eagled the 18th at Poppy Hills for a round of 67 that put him on his own in second.
Having beaten David Duval's 54-hole record set in 1997, Mickelson now only needs to break par in the final round to eclipse the 72-hole mark set by Mark O'Meara, also in that year.
Mickelson was much tidier off the tee at Pebble Beach than he was in his second round at Poppy Hills, but could well have been even further ahead, missing four birdie chances from inside 15 feet in his opening six holes.
"I don't want to do anything stupid but I don't want to play defensive either"
He dropped only his second shot of the week when an eight-iron sailed over the green into a bunker and he missed from 15 feet.
But it was another impressive all-round display from the 34-year-old American, who demonstrated his versatility by choosing to play a soft nine-iron from 123 yards that set up a birdie.
He picked up three shots on each nine, spinning a wedge shot back to five feet at the closing par-five.
"I want to keep pushing it and get as many birdies as possible," Mickelson said.
"I don't want to do anything stupid but I don't want to play defensive either."
"I think [Mickelson] is phenomenal, he takes it on and he's firing on all cylinders"
The 2003 British Masters winner, who had to play through three stages of the US Tour school last year, propelled himself out of the cluster behind Mickelson with a four-iron to 12 feet en route to an eagle at Poppy Hills' last.
He will now be in the final pairing with Mickelson at Pebble Beach on Sunday, but admitted: "I've never played with the guy or got to meet him.
"I think he's phenomenal, he takes it on and he's firing on all cylinders."
Singh, the defending champion, began with a birdie at Pebble Beach but ran up a double-bogey seven at the next as a run of 28 consecutive cuts came to an end.
Jose Maria Olazabal continued his consistent form, with four birdies on his outward nine at Poppy Hills in a round of 68 that left him at 11 under.
Darren Clarke had three birdies and a solitary dropped shot at Spyglass Hill to earn a share of eighth at 10 under.
Graeme McDowell is a shot further back, Luke Donald moved up to seven under after six birdies in his 68, but Lee Westwood had a double bogey and two bogeys in a 74 that dropped him to five under.