He sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the fifth, dropped in another from 25 feet at eight and closed the front nine with a six-foot birdie putt.
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The rain made the course even softer than usual, setting the stage for the low scores.
Spieth demonstrated that with an eagle at the par-5 second hole after dropping his 260-yard approach two feet from the cup.
Spieth then finished with a birdie after hitting his drive into the right trees on No. 18. His consolation is a personal-best at the Deere (four total appearances), supplanting a T30 in the 2012 edition.
“A couple of weeks ago, I had a real good chance”, said Harman. You know, I think it’s going to be a fun day.
“I’ve just been trying to roll with the momentum”, Spieth said. “I didn’t think it was a real hard shot, so I felt like I could make four”.
Last week’s victory at the Greenbrier Classic was his first such victory and notched New Zealand’s first title since Michael Campbell’s US Open triumph in 2005.
Lee knows he is a heavy underdog.
The 24-year-old made nine birdies without dropping a shot to be within touching distance of Spieth heading into the final round.
“That turning point mid-round on Friday where I had a really good stretch to get inside the cut line is what really gave me a lot of confidence”. “I wonder what Sunday is going to look like. I can not wait”.
► Scottish Open: Unheralded Daniel Brooks overcame a terrible start, an injured wrist and the toughest conditions of the week to keep his unlikely lead, after a windy third round in which Rickie Fowler surged up the leaderboard.
Despite the win, Paul McGinley believes Spieth has stacked the odds of winning the Open Championship against himself by not being ruthless enough.
Spieth is known by his peers for being wise beyond his years and so far he has barely made a misstep in his burgeoning career. This tournament could be over in a hurry if he gets off to a hot start Sunday.
“I was wondering if it was a double eagle (albatross)”, Johnson said.
Spieth’s Open warm-up has gone exactly how he would have hoped and high-rollers will be circling around the short prices about him lifting yet another trophy today. He’s not the straightest, either, and more than one expert has said he’ll eventually have to fix the unorthodox “chicken wing” finish in his swing. From 107 yards Spieth holed out with a sand wedge for an eagle-three that took him into the lead. 2-4 before settling down. I feel like I have one from this year. The ninth-ranked American is two shots off the pace.
“I am putting well”, he said.
And now Thomas has the first start in first place of his career.
GLENVIEW, Ill. (AP) – Lee Janzen, Fred Funk, David Frost and Brad Bryant share the lead after shooting a 7-under 65 in the first round of the Encompass Championship at North Shore Country Club.
Johnson is four back of Thomas at 8 under and one shot ahead of Spieth.
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Tournament director Clair Peterson said the JDC’s revenue is up 35 percent from past year, and 2014 was the event’s highest since 2006.
