Jordan Spieth will take a share of the lead into the final round of the 147th Open Championship as he looks to become the first back-to-back victor for a decade.
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Jul 21, 2018; Carnoustie, Angus, SCT; Kevin Kisner reacts to a missed putt on the 12th green during the third round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Carnoustie Golf Links.
Woods, without a major win for a decade, moved ominously into contention with a 5-under-par 66 to be 5-under, four shots back.
“I played a little bit better yesterday”, Woods said of his matching scores for the opening two rounds.
“I’ve shown that I’ve been there close enough with a chance to win this year”, Woods said.
He completed a full set of pars on the outward half to trail Woods by one at the turn after the 14-time major champion birdied the fourth and sixth to hit the top of the leaderboard and set the pulses racing among the record crowds for an Open at Carnoustie.
Spieth, who started the day in a three-way share of the lead with Kisner and Shauffele, crashed with a 76 to wind up equal ninth a further stroke back with United States countrymen Tony Finau (71) and last year’s runner-up Matt Kuchar (72).
“I’ve got a bit of experience at this”, he said.
Compared to how he finished his first round Spieth was more than happy to negotiate the daunting closing holes with no further damage and his name lurking on the leaderboard. “There’s always a chance I could play my way back into the tournament”.
No, not Dustin Johnson, the No. 1 ranked player in the world, victor of 18 career titles and the unanimous pre-tournament betting favorite to hoist the Claret Jug on Sunday.
Then three holes later, Woods two-putted for birdie at No. 14 and there he was, right at the top of the giant yellow leaderboards dotted all around Carnoustie, tied for the lead with five players at 6 under.
A bogey on the 10th slowed his charge and although he responded with a long birdie on 11 he lipped-out a three-footer for par on the 13th and surrendered another shot at the 15th after another visit to a sand trap. “I don’t feel I have to prove anything to anyone at this point”.
“I think momentum-wise, birdieing the very first hole, picking up where I left off last night, got me well into the round early”. – Agencies This is the best birthday present for myself, playing in The Open and the weather was ideal today.
Another American Kevin Chappell is two shots off the lead with Italy’s Francesco Molinari on six under and Woods another stroke back alongside Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Webb Simpson, Alex Noren, Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson. “I felt I really had control of the ball”.
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Tiger is back, but more importantly, so is his game. It was his lowest score at the British Open by two shots, and at the end of the day, Rose was in a tie for 13th.
