Spieth surges towards Open title as McIlroy struggles

Cary Marshall
16:28, Jul 23, 2017
Copyright 2015 All rights reserved. This material can't be published, transferred, copied or redistributed.

After holding a share of the first-round lead with countrymen Jordan Spieth and US Open champion Brooks Koepka, Kuchar posted a one-over-par 71 in brutal conditions on Friday (Saturday NZ Time) to hold firm.

Spieth, a two-time major victor, led overnight by three strokes after a birdie on 18, while Kuchar saw his attempt slide by the hole.

A birdie on the ninth revived hopes of a title challenge, but the 2014 champion barely escaped a fairway bunker on the 10th on his way to a double-bogey six.

But most people will be aware of his meltdown at Augusta a year ago when he failed to hold on to a four shot lead on the final six holes. But playing partner Kuchar kept in touch with three birdies of his own.

Defending champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden stayed in contention with a 69 while world number one Dustin Johnson of the United States and four-times major victor Rory McIlroy battled to one-over 71s.

It is typical, though, of the level-headed and thoughtful Spieth that he considers that disastrous Sunday a memory that doesn't need to be blocked out.

The lowest score in major championship history was already in the books Saturday when Spieth was still warming up on the range at Royal Birkdale.

Spieth won The Masters and US Open in 2015 and will be looking to complete the third leg of a career Grand Slam today after a wonderful third round, during which he went head to head with Kuchar for 18 holes.

That led one sympathetic journalist to suggest to him he must be proud that he fought back and showed true character.

Ryder Cup team-mates Kuchar and Spieth will play alongside each other again in the final round.

Shots Fired: Retailers Take Aim at Amazon Prime Day
Much of Amazon's recent growth comes from Prime not as a luxury, but as an economic necessity for more and more households. One of the more useful abilities of Amazon's Echo products is the ability to use them to order stuff from Amazon .

"It's a little bit tougher to sleep, but I've been fine recently", he said after Saturday's round.

"I had 145 yards into a slight breeze, so I hit a really solid 9-iron and it didn't get any better than that", he explained with some modesty.

Open champion in 2014 at Hoylake and a four-time major victor, McIlroy admitted it took some strong words from his caddy JP Fitzgerald to help him recover.

Now it's up to him to close and make history.

"I couldn't have done much better", admitted the Texan, even if he agonisingly failed to convert a putt for birdie at 18.

"I definitely feel like today was an opportunity lost to get right in the mix going into tomorrow", McIlroy said. "I'm very excited for tomorrow".

"Just play a good round of golf and see where that finishes me, I guess". "But that's probably the most important thing for me to do". He matched Kuchar's birdie on the third hole to stay one shot ahead. "But when I made a mistake, I was able to be resilient and bounce back".

Even those odds — unusually long for McIlroy — looked way too short when the world No. 4 pulled his tee shot at the first, had a flier to the right of the green with his second shot, sent his chip shot through the green with his third, and two-putted for bogey. In majors, 31 players have shot 63, including 10 in the Open, but 62 had become untouchable. I'm certainly not out of it.

That was an eight-shot improvement on Thursday and although he dropped shots on the 13th and 15th, a birdie on the 17th helped McIlroy climb into a tie for sixth with Richard Bland, Austin Connelly and Gary Woodland.

"I understand that leads can be squandered quickly, and I also understand how you can keep on rolling on one", he said.

Copyright 2015 All rights reserved. This material can't be published, transferred, copied or redistributed.


Popular
  • Nadal bows out after Wimbledon epic

    Nadal bows out after Wimbledon epic

    The remarkable Nadal could not break down the old-fashioned serve and volley tennis of his opposing left-hander. He beat Mario Ancic and Lee Childs before losing to #12 seed, Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand in straight sets.
    Gergen: Special election victories show Trump could beat Dems in 2020

    Gergen: Special election victories show Trump could beat Dems in 2020

    "We showed the world that in places where no one thought it was possible, we could fight", Mr Ossoff told supporters. Filemon Vela told Politico , "You'd have to be an idiot to think we could win the House with Pelosi at the top".
    Germany: no punishment for UK, but EU exit good for no one

    Germany: no punishment for UK, but EU exit good for no one

    Once agreement has been made in this phase of the talks, the second phase discussing the future trade relationship can begin. Officials on both sides have until March 2019 to work out a deal, after which Britain will official exit the EU.
  • Hundreds march in USA to mourn Justine Damond's death

    Hundreds march in USA to mourn Justine Damond's death

    But he might have already been in a heightened state of awareness in light of recent ambushes of police, they added. WILLIAMS: Arradondo didn't offer details but said Chief Janee Harteau will soon be releasing an updated policy.
    Reports of Alfred Angelo Bridal closing has customers anxious

    Reports of Alfred Angelo Bridal closing has customers anxious

    Janel said if the company can not fulfill her store's orders, Valens plans to refund the brides out their own pockets. I was there on Sunday, and next thing I knew I called the store and it kept on ringing and ringing", Moy said.
    TV stars support Modi government's new tax reform!

    TV stars support Modi government's new tax reform!

    India's individual states will still be allowed to separately tax some products including alcohol, petrol and aviation fuel. The Prime Minister said that GST , was not only Goods and Services tax but also "Good and Simple Tax ".

  • Mistrial Declared In Bill Cosby Rape Case, Jury "Hopelessly Deadlocked"

    In recent years, Cosby admitted to decades of philandering and to giving Quaaludes to women to induce them to have sex. Count 1 alleges that Cosby didn't have consent when he penetrated Constand's genitals with his fingers.
    Democrats Play Blame Game With Pelosi After Georgia Election - To GOP's Glee

    Democrats Play Blame Game With Pelosi After Georgia Election - To GOP's Glee

    Republican House Speaker David Ralston has said lawmakers were merely "trying to put communities of interest together". Josh McKoon this year to propose a constitutional amendment creating a bipartisan citizens' redistricting commission.

    Virginia Primaries: Ralph Northam fends off progressive Tom Perriello with double-digit lead

    Northam sought to stoke Democrats' anger toward Trump, calling the president a "narcissistic maniac" in statewide ads. Rob Manch is up in Arlington, Virginia, at the watch party for Northam, who's received endorsements from U.S.
  • Sen. Johnson: More time needed to evaluate health care bill

    Sen. Johnson: More time needed to evaluate health care bill

    GOP Senate leaders can only lose two members of their 52-senator caucus in support of the bill in order for it to pass. The top 1 percent of society will find their Obamacare taxes , those created to fund care for the poor, repealed.
    Another leadership test for Pelosi, who's weathered many

    Another leadership test for Pelosi, who's weathered many

    That seat was formerly held by Republican Mick Mulvaney, who is now Trump's director of the Office of Management and Budget. Particularly disappointing was the loss of Jon Ossoff in Georgia to a truly bad Republican candidate, Karen Handel .

    After Georgia, Republicans celebrating, Dems searching

    Republican Karen Handel will be the next member of Congress for the 6th district, not newcomer-turned-Democratic hero Jon Ossoff . Trump predicted Handel's win as early as April 17, when he said that a runoff will lead to a win.

CONNECT