India's Anirban Lahiri assured himself of the final round action with four birdies on the back nine to card a six-under 66 and make the cut for the American Express Golf tournament here.
After 70-70 in the first two rounds, Lahiri's 66 carried his total to 206 for 10-under and Tied 43rd as the cut fell at nine-under. He rose from an overnight Tied 84th to Tied 43rd at the La Quinta course.
Tournament host Phil Mickelson failed to make the cut as he finished his three rounds at three-under.
Andrew Landry (65) at the Nicklaus Tournament Course and Scottie Scheffler (66) at the tougher Stadium Course, seemed to break away from the pack on the moving day.
They are both 21-under 195 and four shots clear of third-place Rickie Fowler (70), who played the Stadium Course.
Lahiri, who had two double bogeys in his 70 at Stadium Course in the second round, began with a flourish as he parred the 10th and then birdied 11th, 12th and 13th.
A dropped shot on 17th saw him turn in two-under for the day and six-under for the tournament.
On the second nine, he birdied first and added further gains on fifth and sixth. A closing birdie on ninth made his position safe as he finished 10-under and one better than the cutline.
After three rounds at Nicklaus Tournament Course, the Stadium Course and La Quinta action returns to Stadium Course for the final day.
Fowler and Scheffler were tied for the second round lead, but the latter broke away Saturday.
The 23-year-old Scheffler, a former University of Texas star, is in his first season on the PGA Tour after winning twice and topping the Korn Ferry Tour Finals and overall points lists.
Tony Finau followed a second-round 62 on the Nicklaus Course with a 71 at the Stadium and he is T-9 with 10 others.
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