Spieth shapes up with birdie blitz

A SENSATIONAL start to his final round in Houston yesterday meant Jordan Spieth got his wish heading to the Masters — to be in contention on the back nine in his last event before Augusta. Five shots had separated him from the little-known American leaders of the Houston Open — Jamie Lovemark and Jim Herman — but five wonderful birdies in his first seven holes changed all that. The fireworks began with a precise iron to five feet at the second, to set up the first of four birdies in a row. At the seventh he rolled in one of those 25-footers that have become his trademark. But Spieth (right) did drop a shot at the tough ninth to reach the turn three behind Herman. Also in contention were three more players who will be quietly fancied at the Masters. American Dustin Johnson and Swede Henrik Stenson were a shot off the pace, while world No 5 Rickie Fowler was another to start with a flurry of birdies to move alongside Spieth. At the women’s first major of the season taking place in California, England’s Charley Hull finished her third round with four straight birdies to lie two shots off the lead, held by American Lexi Thompson, going into the final round of the ANA Inspiration. World No 1 Lydia Ko was one shot behind. The 18-year-old New Zealander was trying to become the first teenager to win two majors since Young Tom Morris played a 12-hole course and beat a field of 14 players to win the 1869 Open. Hull, 20, hoped to become the youngest Brit to win a

major since Morris.