Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Spieth opens up 7-shot lead at Isleworth
WINDERMERE,FLA.» Jordan Spieth flew from Japan to Australia to Dallas the last two weeks, took a day off and then came over to Florida for the Hero World Challenge.
His game traveled with him.
One week and half a world away from his sixshot victory in the Australian Open, Spieth was practically flawless Saturday at Isleworth. He opened with three straight birdies and capped his day with a 50foot birdie putt for a 9-under 63 and a seven-shot lead over Keegan Bradley and Henrik Stenson.
“Felt strong coming off last week,” Spieth said. “Job is not done this week, but I’m a believer in my own momentum. I’m going to go out tomorrow with a very similar strategy to today. If the putts go and the breaks go my way, hopefully shoot a round like today. If Stastny’s second goal of not, I’m still going to have the game and his fifth of to shoot under par to win the season at 13:26 of the this golf tournament.” Marthird snapped a 4-4 tie Spieth was at 20-under tin Brodeur wasn’t196.planand gave the Blues their ning to be in net for the first lead. St. Louis fell beHe said he has never been St. Louis Blues net on Sathind by three goals in the 20 under on any course urday. first period, then replaced through 54 holes, and he
But after they fell bestarter Jake Allen with Brohas never finished a tournahind the Islanders 3-0, the deur to start the second. ment that many under par. goaltender with the most “It changed momenThat gave him a target for victories in league history tum to put me in there. It Sunday, when he goes after entered in relief and his worked out well,” Brodeur his second straight victory. new team rallied to win said. “When it was 3-3, I Tournament host Tiger 6-4. said ‘ Here we go. It’s my Woods was 20 shots behind
Paul Stastny scored game now.”’ and in dire need of his antitwice — including the goBrodeur made 14 saves biotics taking effect. Woods ahead goal in the third pefor career win No. 689 lost his voice overnight and riod — and Brodeur had and his 52nd against the had nausea on the practice his first win in a St. Louis Islanders, the most for the range and the golf course. uniform after 688 victories 42-year-old goaltender He felt slightly better at the with the New Jersey Devils. against any team. end of his round when he made three straight birdies for a 69.
He remained place.
Bradley made four straight birdies around the turn on his way to a 65. He will play in the final group with Spieth.
“I’ve got to shoot a low one and get some help from Jordan,” said Bradley, who has not won in more than two years. “He’s such a good player. I don’t expect that. I’m going to have to shoot a really low one.”
Stenson, who played in the final group with Spieth on Saturday, recovered from a sluggish start with four birdies over his last eight holes for a 68.
“I don’t think anybody is going to catch him tomor-
in
last row unless he’s having a really bad day,” Stenson said. “Seems to be a one-horse race going into Sunday. He’s a very solid player and playing solid golf at a very young age.”
Stenson recalls Spieth making a spirited charge at the Swede in the Tour Championship last year. He also is aware that Spieth finished one shot out of a playoff in Japan and won in Sydney against a field that included Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott.
“We’re going to see a lot of him in the years to come,” Stenson said.
Spieth elected to return Saturday morning to complete the rain-delayed second round instead of finishing in darkness. He had clear vision in the morning — not only of his chip to 5 feet to save par, but of Steve Stricker’s 50-foot birdie attempt across the green.
Spieth had about the same putt later in the day, only going in the opposite direction of Stricker’s putt. That at least gave him an idea of the speed, though he had imagined a 3-foot circle around the hole that he would have accepted to walk off with par.
This turned out even better. The putt dropped for an unlikely birdie, and Spieth raised his putter as it dropped. He was all smiles walking off the green.
“I put my putter up, which usually means it will find a way to lip out,” Spieth said.