San Diego ? The return of Tiger Woods is shaping up to be a real treat. Not only is he leading the Buick Invitational, he gets to spend the final round with Phil Mickelson trying to chase him down.

With a dazzling array of shots and a diet of crucial pars on the back nine, Woods ended an entertaining day by hitting into a corporate tent and still making birdie for a 4-under 68, giving him a one-stroke lead over Brad Faxon.

“I’m excited about even having a chance after taking off as much time as I did,” said Woods, who was at 12-under 204.

In his first tournament since Dec. 12 surgery on his left knee, Woods didn’t waste any time getting back into a familiar position. The next test is whether he can hold the lead, something he does better than anyone.

Woods is 26-2 on the PGA Tour when he has at least a share of the 54-hole lead, and the last one to beat him from behind was — guess who? — Mickelson, in the 2000 Tour Championship at East Lake.

Mickelson, the hometown favorite and a chief rival to Woods, had a 69 by making a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole, knowing what was on the line.

“I was thinking on that putt on 18, I would love to get into that last group,” said Mickelson, who was two strokes behind at 206, along with Steven Alker.

The PGA Tour could not have scripted this any better.

Television ratings are 113 percent higher when Woods is in contention. Add to that a rivalry that got even more intense last week when Mickelson said in a magazine interview that Woods plays “inferior” equipment and is the only player good enough to overcome it.