Late surge puts Spieth in control at Glen Oaks
OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. » Jordan Spieth delivered most of the excitement Saturday at The Northern Trust with three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the front nine to take the lead, and then three straight birdies on the back nine to pull away from a strong cast of contenders.
Now if he can just inject a little boredom into his life.
Spieth matched the low score of the tournament at Glen Oaks Club with a 6-under 64, giving him a threeshot lead over Dustin Johnson as he tries to embellish an already strong reputation as a closer.
Based on the last few months, however, his record only looks good on paper.
“It’s easier to win from that position. You’ve got an advantage on the field,” Spieth said. “But look at my last lead — three shots, and that was gone by the fourth hole. Anything can happen on Sunday.”
He was referring to the British Open, where he lost a comfortable lead in the first hour, finally fell behind on the 13th hole and then put together one of the best finishing stretches in major championship history at Royal Birkdale to beat Matt Kuchar.
He could have just as easily been referring to The Travelers a month earlier, where he struggled so mightily with his putting that he had to save par from a bunker to get into a playoff, then won on the first extra hole by holing a bunker shot.
“I imagine it’s not like guys that were chasing Tiger where you almost feel hopeless and you try and do all you can,” Spieth said. “Because I’ve shown that things can get a little off, and have to get back on track.”
He was on the right track on another glorious afternoon of sunshine on Long Island.
Johnson, his regular partner at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, failed to take advantage until he stuffed his approach into 4 feet on the 18th hole for a birdie and a 67.
Spieth was at 12-under 198, and his reputation — even for a 24-year-old in his fifth year on the PGA Tour — is as daunting as the size of his lead. Spieth has a 9-5 record with at least a share of the 54-hole lead, including nine of his last 10.
Also: Canadian Henderson shoots 63
OTTAWA, ONTARIO » Brooke Henderson made a big move in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to the delight of her many home fans.
The 19-year-old major champion from nearby Smiths Falls shot an 8-under 63 to get into contention at Ottawa Hunt, finishing before the most of the other leaders even teed off.
A day after birdieing the par-5 18th to make the weekend cut on the number, Henderson had eight birdies in her bogey-free round to reach 7 under — leaving her three strokes behind thirdround leaders Nicole Broch Larsen and Mo Martin. SNOQUALMIE, WASH. » Jerry Kelly shot a 6-under 66 on to take a three-stroke lead in the Boeing Classic, putting him in position for his first PGA Tour Champions title. FARSO, DENMARK » John Daly rolled back the years with a 6-under 65 on a day of low scoring at the Made in Denmark tournament to sit three shots off the lead after the third round on Saturday.
Daly was in a tie for third in a group of four.
English golfer, David Horsey, led the field by two shots after the low round of the day, 64.