Grace sets record but Spieth leads
SOUTHPORT, England: Jordan Spieth led the British Open by three shots and Branden Grace posted the lowest score at a men’s major championship in a dramatic third round at Royal Birkdale yesterday.
American Spieth (23) fired a flawless 65 to finish on 11under 199, three clear of his compatriot, Matt Kuchar (66), while South African Grace shot 62 to achieve what no player had done in 441 previous majors.
There have been 31 rounds of 63 in the sport’s biggest tournaments and Grace’s feat prompted a standing ovation at the 18th green as he saluted the packed galleries.
‘‘I honestly had no idea that was something historic,’’ the world No 35 said.
‘‘I knew I was playing well and I was just in the zone. I didn’t know 62 was the lowest ever but now it makes it even more special. If my caddie knew he never said anything; good on him!’’
Spieth, twice a major champion, had taken time out from his warmup session to watch Grace sink his final putt but the world No 3 was not distracted. He calmly collected three birdies on the front nine and with Kuchar keeping pace, the pair kept the rest of the field at arm’s length.
Kuchar wobbled with a doublebogey at the 16th but birdied the 17th on the way to a 66, and Spieth drained a 4m putt at the last to give himself a cushion as he bids for a first British Open title.
‘‘It was a really solid round and I’m very pleased with the position I’m in,’’ Spieth said.
‘‘Mentally, it was quite tough today knowing the conditions were good for scoring. But I made a nice start with the birdie at three and I didn’t have too much stress in the round.’’
American Brooks Koepka, the US Open champion, went round in 68 to finish at 5underpar, level with Canadian Austin Connelly (20), who continued his remarkable run at his first major with a 66.
World No 2 Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, carded 66 to join Grace at 4under, one ahead of the world’s topranked player, American Dustin Johnson (64), defending champion Henrik Stenson (65), Spain’s Rafael Cabrera Bello (67) and American Chan Kim (67).
World No 4 Rory McIlroy started with three birdies but the Northern Irishman’s hopes of a fifth major faded with a doublebogey at the 10th and he ended at 2underpar, level with England’s Ian Poulter.