“I’m in the British Open so hopefully I can win that one”, he said. But Spieth demonstrated why he is the world No. 1 on the back nine – he played it in 5-under par after three birdies and a thrilling hole-out eagle at the par-4 17th.
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Spieth drained an eight-foot downhill putt on the 11th to also move to six-under and Scott, ahead on the 14th, joined him to make it a four-way tie for the lead.
“It was hard-going out there today, windy, the pins were tucked, but I made some putts”, Scott said.
The 22-year-old American overcame a poor start in Sydney to post a four-under-par 67 which took him to within three shots of leader Matt Jones.
Jones had endured a hard round that included four birdies, a triple bogey, a double bogey and a bogey.
Jordan Spieth of the USA gives fans a thumbs up after he hit an eagle on the 17th during the Australian Open Golf Tournament in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015.
It had looked like being a third day of frustration for Spieth in the crosswinds at the Australian Golf Club, especially after he dropped shots at three of his first four holes.
He finished just off the back edge with his second and got up and down for one final birdie and was then forced to wait to see if his 7 under total would be enough.
At the Australian Open alone, a pair of horror bogeys in the first round meant he needed four birdies on the back nine to salvage par and he made the cut despite a second round in which he failed to once beat par.
“I would have been pretty excited to be in a play-off with Matt as that would have added to this week as the crowds have just been unbelievable and much bigger than past year”, said Spieth.
Pampling then topped it all off, sinking a huge eagle putt on the last to finish with a 10-under 61 to set the clubhouse lead at 6-under.
“I had it at the PGA but I battled away today all day, which is fantastic the way I did. I could have let it slip and let it get away easily but I fought it out, ground it out and that’s something I can use for later on down the road”.
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I’m sure I’ll be noticed a little more walking around a street maybe in Australia or at the horse races next weekend, but I’m just happy to have my name on this trophy.
