Phil Mickelson makes unlikely birdie from the trees at Safeway Open

Phil Mickelson required a moment of brilliance from the trees to help him move into contention during the third round of the Safeway Open.

The PGA Tour veteran posted a four-under 68 in California to get within four strokes of leader Tyler Duncan, with one shot, in particular, standing out from his round.

Mickelson bounced back from a bogey at the second to post four consecutive birdies from the fourth, before rolling in from four feet at the ninth to reach the turn in 32.

The five-time major champion dropped a shot at the 12th and appeared in further trouble at the next after hooking his tee shot and seeing it bounce off a cart path onto a horrible lie.

With a tree trunk blocking Mickelson's ideal second shot and a number of branches limiting how high he could hit the ball, Lefty used his creative magic to fire a hard hook around the obstacle and set up a 10-foot birdie.

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Click on the video above to see Mickelson's marvellous recovery!

Watch the final round of the Safeway Open live from 10.30pm on Sky Sports Golf