Spieth returns to form with stunning 61 in Phoenix
Jordan Spieth of the United States reacts to a birdie on the 16th hole during the third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 06, 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Jordan Spieth made 10 birdies in a career-low 10-under 61 to snatch a share of the lead with Xander Schauffele in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Struggling with his long game and even with his putter, the former world No 1 and three-time major winner (27) has been winless since he won The Open at Royal Birkdale three and a half years ago, falling to 91st in the world
But he showed at TPC Scottsdale that he is getting closer to recovering his best form as he birdied the third, fourth, sixth and eighth to turn in 31, chipped in at the 10th, then birdied the 11th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th to share the lead on 18-under par with Schauffele, who shot 65.
The American duo lead by three strokes from Kyoung-Hun Lee and Scottie Scheffler, who will join them in a final group comprising three former Rookie of the Year winners.
Seeking his second career PGA TOUR title, Louis Oosthuizen shot a career-low-round, bogey-free eight-under 63 to share fifth with Justin Thomas, just four shots off the pace on 14-under.
A show to remember.@JordanSpieth's putter caught fire @WMPhoenixOpen. 🥵 pic.twitter.com/QsczBZuRCs
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 7, 2021
With James Hahn, Brooks Koepka and Steve Stricker just five shots behind on 13-under, the final day promises to be an exciting one though Rory McIlroy is playing for the minor placings after another erratic week with the driver, the wedges and the putter.
The Co Down man is tied for 36th on six-under after carding a one-under 70 yesterday.
While he’s ranked fourth for strokes gained off the tee, he was frequently out of position and found himself ranked 44th for proximity from 125-150 yards (21 feet 9 inches) compared to Koepka, who leads that category with 8 feet 6 inches.
McIlroy made just 50 feet of putts yesterday but Spieth made 125 feet 7 inches — rolling in a 20 footer at the fourth, a 37 footer at the 16th and a 30 footer at the 17th — bring back memories of the stroke that brought him 14 worldwide wins, including three majors between 2013 and 2017.
“I was in in a pretty kind of low spot after missing the cut last week when I really -- I just had a bad back nine and I felt like I was making progress in each round,” Spieth said.
“So to come here in the first round and hit it so poorly but shoot 4-under, I just felt like I had a little space. And then to make the cut and feel like you have Saturday these kind of conditions to make a run, I just felt like I stayed really, really patient and struck the ball well.
“Just tried to hit it to the fat parts of the greens when I was out of position and try and attack when I could. Just felt like I was playing golf better than swinging the golf club, and unfortunately, there still needs to be a little bit of both right now. I can't put 100% into playing golf or I run into some issues I had late in the round, but it's getting there.”
1. Man dressed as Borat considers diving into the water
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) February 7, 2021
2. Jordan Spieth pours in 10th birdie of his round
3. Jordan Spieth points at Borat, (maybe?) suggesting he jump in the water
4. Borat gets arrested instead https://t.co/Fp8yA2QXf8
With 5,000 fans allowed on site, most appeared to be at the 16th, where Spieth made a near 40 footer to the loudest roar heard on the PGA Tour since last year.
“I told Michael the only downside of the birdie putt on 16 is that it would have been arguably the loudest roar I've ever had if it were last year,” he said. “But it was still loud. It is really fun. It is cool.
“You know, again, it was just about getting putts. Just getting putts at it, putting the ball in the centre of the green, and letting my speed control take care of it. And if they happen to drop, they happen to drop.
“I mean, to shoot 10-under you got to do a lot right, but I also got quite a few really good breaks. I mean, each shot that ended up in the desert I think I ended up playing those holes 2- or 3-under today. You could easily end up in a cactus with an unplayable.
“So it's not to say I didn't get some good breaks. Hole caught a few balls and I definitely got some good ones in the desert. Overall stayed really patience. I told Michael I feel like any patience was an A while I was swinging with a B minus.”
As for the incident at the 17th where a fan dressed as Borat ending up getting arrested, Spieth explained: “17, yeah, the guy's chair broke, and so it broke and he fell backwards and everyone went nuts. We were all laughing. So then I was laughing a bunch, got back into my putt, and when I made it I was pointing at him. I didn't realise he was getting arrested at the time because I hadn't seen him since he fell out of the chair.
“I looked up and he was getting arrested, so when I pointed at him it got him going even more, which was not the plan. I thought he was going to just yell louder. Then they wanted him to jump in the water and then he was trying to and resisting. I don't know what happened overall.
“I told Billy I felt horrible that Billy still had to putt when that was happening in his through-line. That wasn't my intention. I thought he was just standing out of the chair that he was sitting in when it broke. But he was dressed like Borat I think, so definitely came to have a good time.
“I don't think he's having a great time right now. That was an unfortunate set of circumstances.”
