INVERNESS -- Henrik Stenson kept a resurgent Phil Mickelson at arms length at the Scottish Open by shooting a 6-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round on Saturday. Mickelson was in a group of four players in a tie for second after making six birdies in his last 11 holes for a 66, leaving the American talking up his improving links game ahead of next weeks British Open. Branden Grace and first-round leader John Parry were in that group with Mickelson after two more 66s, with unheralded Dane J.B. Hansen (69) making up the quartet. Stenson, on 16 under par, has emerged from a prolonged slump and is showing the kind of consistent form that took the Swede to No. 4 in 2009. "I wouldnt say Im far off that," said Stenson, who was as low as No. 230 in the rankings 18 months ago. "The way I played today, that was top-10 (in the world) standard. Its as good as I have hit the ball all season." With the wind only arriving late in the day and the sun again beating down, Castle Stuart was largely defenceless for a third straight round but no player made the kind of hot round that could rip a bunched-up field apart. Chris Doak led overnight on 12 under but the pressure on him to push on and become Scotlands first winner of its national open in 14 years seemed to weigh down on him. He could make only a 1-over 73. As Doak tumbled down the leaderboard, birdies were coming thick and fast elsewhere. Gareth Maybin equalled the weeks lowest round of 64, putting him in a three-way tie for sixth with Raphael Jacquelin (65) and Peter Uihlein (70), who struggled at times in the last group alongside Doak. Accurate off the tee and creative as ever around the greens, Mickelson chose the ideal day to produce his full repertoire of skills. American television was broadcasting a regular European Tour event live for the first time this weekend, with NBC fortunate enough to have two U.S. players -- Mickelson and Uihlein -- in contention. Uihlein was patchy. Mickelson was anything but. Refusing to get too frustrated after parring his way to No. 8, the four-time major winner delivered a barrage of four birdies in five holes playing into the wind. A delicate chip to within three feet set up another birdie at No. 16 and a 15-foot putt at the last lifted him briefly into the lead and produced one of the biggest cheers of the day. "On the eighth hole, I just tried to slow things down a little bit ... I holed one putt and it ignited the round," said Mickelson, who was watched by his wife and three kids. "The last 11 holes were a lot of fun for me to play." Mickelson is seeking a first individual win in Europe in 20 years, and first ever in Britain. That would prove the ideal way to go into the British Open, one of the two majors he is yet to capture. "I have kept the ball in play as well as I ever have (on links)," added Mickelson, who found 11 of 14 fairways on the undulating course in the Scottish Highlands. Stenson has been under par in 24 of his 31 rounds this year but hasnt managed a tournament win since capturing the SA Open Championship in Johannesburg in November. The biggest victory of his career came at the Players Championship at Sawgrass in 2009 and a year later he placed third at the British Open. It has been a tale of woe since then but he is on the way back, partly due to his improved mental approach. "I have put down some long-term goals for my game," the 37-year-old Stenson said. "I feel like Im playing golf with a little more ease and if its not happening today, it will happen tomorrow or the day after. "Its a little bit less stressful in that sense." 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Pittsburgh Pirates Shirts . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys HOUSTON -- Carlos Beltran has been trying to find a way to get back to Houston for years after spending a remarkable few months with the Astros more than a decade ago.On Monday he finally got his wish when he and the Astros finalized a one-year, $16 million contract.It only took 12 years to come back, he said with a smile. Im happy to be where I am and looking forward to working with the younger guys like Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, (Alex) Bregman -- the young core thats going to be here for a long time.Beltran is a nine-time All-Star and has hit .323 with 16 homers and 41 RBI in 55 postseason games. He spent the last half of the 2004 season with the Astros and hit a postseason record-tying eight home runs. It was his first trip to the playoffs, and he still revels in the short time he had a chance to play with Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Lance Berkman, Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens.He wanted to stay with the Astros after that, but the team wouldnt offer him a no-trade clause. Hes heard plenty of boos in the trips hes made to Houston since then, and had a message for the fans that were unhappy with him.They have to blame previous ownership for not making it work, he said. In my heart I wanted to be here. Coming from Kansas City and being able to get the opportunity to play with so many good players, this is the place I wanted to be, and unfortunately it didnt work out.Now he has another chance as the latest piece the Astros added to boost their lineup since missing the playoffs. They traded for catcher Brian McCann and added free-agent outfielder Josh Reddick before bringing Beltran back. And Houston might not be done yet.What weve tried to do is improve this team ... were going to continue to try and find ways big and small to improve this team, general manager Jeff Luhnow said.Beltran turns 40 in April. He hit a combined .295 with 29 home runs and 93 RBI last season for the New York Yankees and Texas. The switch-hitter split his time as a designated hitter and right fielder, playing 151 games.Hes loooking forward to playing with Correa, a fellow Puerto Rican, and said the two of them and Altuve planned to meet for dinner on Monday night to get better acquainted.ddddddddddddBeltran and Correa have chatted since he agreed to the deal and Beltran said Correa told him hes eager to learn from him.I said: `Im willing to work with you honestly and pass to you everything I know, Beltran said. Thats what its all about. This game is not about what you can do for yourself ... but for me its about what I can do for my team, for the guy next to me and how I can impact that person in a positive way.Luhnow has been a fan of Beltrans for quite some time and said Houston tried to trade for him last summer before he was dealt from the Yankees to Texas. Hes thrilled to finally get him back to Houston.Hes just a great fit for our club where we are right now, Luhnow said.In 19 seasons, Beltran is a career .281 hitter with 421 home runs and 1,536 RBI with the Royals, Astros, Mets, Giants, Cardinals, Yankees and Rangers. Beltran was able to get the No. 15 jersey he wore when he was last with the Astros after longtime catcher Jason Castro, who had worn the number for years, recently signed with the Twins.I felt that Houston was going to be the place where I was going to spend a lot of time, unfortunately it didnt work out that way, he said. Now Im back and the good thing is you guys got to see the young Carlos play and now you get to see the old Carlos play. So its good.Beltran isnt sure how much longer hell play, but as he enters his 20th major league season he knows the window is getting smaller for him to get that elusive ring and believes the Astros give him a good chance to do that.The opportunity of winning, the opportunity to get to the playoffs and hopefully win a championship, thats what its all about, he said. When I look at the whole lineup -- the whole team I really like our chances. ' ' '