AUGUSTA, Ga. — Lee Westwood appeared to be pulling away, the only player on the Masters leaderboard heading in the right direction Saturday.

Then, just like that, Phil Mickelson turned Moving Day upside down.

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Lee Westwood surveys his options after a wayward drive on the seventh hole Saturday at the Masters. Westwood shot a 4-under 68 and was in the lead at 12 under. The Associated Press

Phil Mickelson barely missed an eagle putt on the eighth hole, then made back-to-back eagles on 13 and 14 en route to a 5-under 67 and a three-round score of 11 under. The Associated Press

Tiger Woods blasts out of a bunker on the fourth hole, leading to one of his five bogeys in the third round. But Woods scrambled for a 2-under 70 and was tied for third, four strokes behind Lee Westwood. The Associated Press

Lefty became only the third player in Augusta National history to make back-to-back eagles and came within 6 inches of another, stealing the attention away from Westwood with one of the most remarkable three-hole stretches this ol’ place has ever seen.

They were cheering on the back nine as loud as ever — and it wasn’t even Sunday.

“There were roars going up all over the place,” Mickelson said. “You couldn’t figure out who was doing what because the roars were happening simultaneously.

“It was a really fun day to see the leaderboard change. The thing was, the pins were tough … but the greens were really receptive, so you could really get at some.”

Westwood settled for hanging on to the lead, shooting a third straight score in the 60s to maintain a one-stroke edge over Mickelson heading to what shapes up to be a thrilling final round.

Tiger Woods isn’t out of it, either. Even though he sprayed the ball all over the place, hitting one shot from out of the wrong fairway, he managed to shoot 70 and is only four strokes behind Westwood.

Mickelson wiped out a five-shot deficit to make himself a prime contender for a third green jacket. He stumbled a bit with a three-putt bogey at No. 17, but managed to get up and down after missing the green at the final hole for a 5-under 67.

Westwood shot 68 for a 12-under 204 through 54 holes and was in the lead by himself after beginning the day tied with fellow Englishman Ian Poulter. Westwood reclaimed the top spot with a two-putt birdie at the 15th, then made a par on the final hole after driving into a bunker.

Westwood is eager to win his first major championship after finishing third at the last two.

“I think I’m ready,” he said. “I felt very calm out there today. I was confident in what I was doing.”

Even though Westwood was leading at the end of the day, this round figured to be remembered for Mickelson’s dazzling play on the back side.

It started at the par-5 13th, where he reached the green in two shots, then rolled in an 8-foot putt for eagle.

The next hole was really extraordinary. From 139 yards in the middle of the fairway, he struck a 9-iron that plopped down to the left of the flag and spun back into the cup. He joined Dan Pohl (1982) and Dustin Johnson (2009) as the only players to make consecutive eagles at the Masters.

How about three in a row? Mickelson gave it a run, knocking a wedge over the pond at the par-5 15th, the ball nuzzling the hole while the patrons tried to will it home with their cheers.

Mickelson was beaming as he walked up to the green for the tap-in birdie that gave him his first outright lead of the tournament.

“I haven’t played this well in a long time,” Mickelson said. “I feel my game is as good as it’s been. I love this tournament more than any other. I love being in contention on Sunday.”

Woods was hurt by a shaky putter and some loose shots off the tee, but he offset five bogeys with seven birdies.

Woods ripped off three back-to-back birdies over the same stretch of holes that Mickelson dominated. A wild drive off the 17th tee led to his fifth bogey, but he came back with a brilliant approach shot at the final hole for a birdie that gave him his second straight 70.

“I was fighting it all day,” Woods said. “I really struggled with the pace of the greens. I was fighting my swing. It was a tough day.”

But he’s right in the mix, tied with K.J. Choi for third place.

“I just wanted to put myself in contention, and I did that,” Woods said. “If I have a good round (today), you never know.”

Fifty-year-old Fred Couples, who led after the first round, bounced back from a disappointing 75 on Friday with a birdie at the 14th and a chip-in eagle at 15 on his way to a 68. He climbed into fifth place, five shots behind Westwood, and has a shot at becoming the oldest winner in Masters history.

“I hit the ball extremely well today — 68 is a very good score,” said Couples. “I have a shot tomorrow if I can shoot a crazy score. We’ll see what happens.”

Poulter struggled to a 74, going from co-leader to seven shots behind in a tie at 210 with Ricky Barnes (72) and Hunter Mahan (68).

“There’s a long way to go,” Woods said. “It’s only Saturday.”

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