Spieth fires a 63 to trail Pebble Beach leaders by one
Jordan Spieth put himself into the mix Saturday at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am title, and he lived to tell about it.
On a day when Seamus Power went backward to allow a half-dozen other players back in the game, Spieth went backward just to make sure he didn’t fall over a 60-foot cliff
Even if it might have looked more dangerous than it was, his approach from the edge of the cliff on the eighth hole at Pebble Beach stole the show on a Saturday that typically belongs to Bill Murray and the rest of the celebrities.
Spieth had a 9-under-par 63, his career low at Pebble Beach, to go from 10 strokes behind Power to one shot behind the leading trio of Beau Hossler, Andrew Putnam and Tom Hoge.
“That was by far the most nerve-racking shot I’ve ever hit in my life,” Spieth said to caddie Michael Greller after his shot went just left of the green.
His tee shot ran out through the fairway, short of going over the edge. Keeping all the weight on his right leg, Spieth hit the shot and immediately backpedaled to level ground. From the rough, he chipped down the slippery green to 18 feet and made the par putt.
It was high entertainment on a Saturday built for such theatrics. And while the celebrities attracted a big gallery that lined fairways on another glorious day, the final round was loaded with possibilities.
Hossler had a 65 at Pebble Beach, narrowly missing a second eagle of the round on the 18th hole. He was the first to reach 15-under 200.
Putnam started on the back nine at Pebble Beach and ran off five straight birdies with hardly anyone watching, finishing with a par for a 68 at Pebble Beach. Hoge was at Spyglass Hill and shot a 68 to join them.
LPGA TOUR
Leona Maguire became the first Irish winner in LPGA Tour history, closing with a 5-under 67 for a three-stroke victory in the LPGA Drive On Championship at Crown Colony in Fort Myers.
“It’s huge for Irish golf,” Maguire said. “There was never an Irish player on the tour, let alone a winner. Hopefully, there is a lot of people watching at home tonight with big smiles on their faces and little girls watching knowing they can do that, too.”
Tied with Marina Alex for the second-round lead after a 65 on Friday, Maguire had seven birdies and two bogeys — the last on the par-5 18th with the outcome decided. The 27-year-old former Duke star finished at 18-under 198.
“It’s a bit surreal,” Maguire said. “It’s been 17 years in the making, and you kind of wonder if it’s ever going to happen. Just really proud of how I played all week, especially today.”
Lexi Thompson was second after a 65.
ASIAN TOUR
Harold Varner III birdied the par-5 18th hole to shoot a 2-under 68 and take a one-stroke lead over Adri Arnaus into the final round of the Saudi International in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia.
Defending champion Dustin Johnson (67) was five strokes back at the Asian Tour event, which paid big appearance fees to lure a slew of PGA Tour and DP World Tour regulars.
Varner, a 31-year-old American and one of those PGA Tour members, eagled the par-5 fourth hole and mixed three birdies with as many bogeys for a 54-hole total of 12-under 198 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club. The 99th-ranked Varner has never won on the PGA Tour.
Arnaus was 11-under after a 69. Tommy Fleetwood was another shot back after his second consecutive 67. Cameron Smith (70) bogeyed three of his last six holes and trails Varner by four strokes.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Nicolai Hojgaard shot an 8-under 64 to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the Ras al Khaimah Championship in United Arab Emirates.
The Dane, seeking his second DP World Tour title, birdied five of his last six for a 54-hole total of 20-under 196, with David Law (69) his nearest rival at 17-under.