Hero World Challenge: Jordan Spieth fires stunning 63 to take seven-shot lead
Sunday 7 December 2014 11:15, UK
Jordan Spieth produced another shot-making masterclass as he roared into a seven-shot lead after the third round of the Hero World Challenge in Florida.
The American Ryder Cup star was in a class of his own at the Isleworth Country Club, carding a faultless nine-birdie 63 to set a new 54-hole tournament record of 20 under par.
His performance is all the more remarkable considering he flew to Florida on Monday having clinched the Australian Open crown in Sydney following a remarkable closing 63 on one of the toughest courses in the country.
After darkness prevented Spieth from finishing his second round on Friday evening, he arrived early to finish off a 67 which earned him a two-shot lead at the halfway stage.
The 21-year-old then flew out of the blocks in round three, putting daylight between himself and the elite 18-player field when he birdied each of the opening three holes.
Spieth picked up another shot at the seventh before embarking on another birdie blitz after the turn, making four in five holes to establish a six-stroke advantage over nearest challengers Henrik Stenson and Keegan Bradley.
Six shots became seven on the final green when Spieth rolled in a superb 50-foot putt for birdie, and he is threatening to turn the final day into a procession if he maintains his world-class level of driving accuracy and precision putting.
"This is the best I've played in a 54-hole stretch in my life," said Spieth. "I don't think I've ever finished 20 under par for a tournament, so that is a good goal for tomorrow.
"But I think I'm still going to have to shoot under par to win."
Bradley could not match the 63 of his Ryder Cup team-mate, but a classy 65 moved him six places up the leaderboard as he continues to get acquainted with his new putter.
The former PGA champion birdied the first two holes before giving one shot back at the long third, and he capped an outward 32 with further birdies at the seventh, eighth and ninth.
Bradley made it four straight birdies at 10 and two more over the last four holes earned him a share of second with Stenson, who recovered from a sluggish start to come home in 32 to return a four-under 68.
Patrick Reed is a further two shots adrift after failing to match the heights of his second-round 63, although a five-birdie 69 was a creditable effort after he started with a bogey five.
Justin Rose's inconsistent week continued as he followed his second-day 64 with an erratic 70 which left him 10 strokes behind Spieth, while Graeme McDowell salvaged a 68 with an excellent finish featuring birdies at 13 and 17 and a superb eagle-two at the 16th - where his drive skipped onto the green and finished three feet from the cup.
But tournament host Tiger Woods remains in last place on level par, although he did birdie the final three holes to post a 69 after spending much of the round battling bouts of coughing and vomiting due to a severe fever.
Live coverage of the final round at Isleworth starts Sunday at 5pm on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.