Jordan Spieth took advantage of brilliant English seaside weather to shoot a bogey-free 5-under-par 65 and extend his lead to three strokes over Matt Kuchar after three rounds of the 146th Open Championship on at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
Spieth, who has led since also opening with a 65, posted a 54-hole total of 11-under 199.
“It was phenomenal from tee-to-green,” said Spieth, who won the Masters and U.S. Open in 2015. “I made some par saves of four-to-five feet, but other than that it was a pretty stress-free for Saturday in a major championship.
“I got lucky and it was nice to get a birdie on the last hole (with a 20-foot putt after his approach escaped a bunker). I knew the scores were going to be better today because of the weather and just played the golf course.
“I just want to do the same thing tomorrow, although it’s supposed to be a little more windy with some rain.”
Kuchar, who trailed by two shots after the second round, dropped another stroke back after a 66 that included a double bogey-6 on the 16th hole.
Spieth and Kuchar played in the final group in round three and will do so again in the finale of the third major of the year.
“I played well today and I’m certainly not out of it, although I would like to be a little closer,” said Kuchar, who is seeking his first major title. “We both played good golf and pushed each other out there, and I’m hoping for the same thing tomorrow.
“The British Open is great, so unique and such a great atmosphere because of the enthusiasm of the fans.”
Brooks Koepka, who won the U.S. Open last month at Erin Hills, shot 67 and is six strokes back in a tie for third with 20-year-old Austin Connelly of Canada, who totaled 66.
Branden Grace of South Africa set a men’s major championship record by shooting 62 and climbed to with seven shots of Spieth in a tie for fifth with Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who had a 66.
Johnny Miller shot the first of 31 63s in the majors in the final round to win the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont. The most previous 63 in a major was recorded by Justin Thomas in the third round of the U.S. Open last month.
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson carded a 64 and is eight shots back in a tie for seventh with Chan Kim (67), defending champion Henrik Stenson (65) of Sweden and Rafael Cabrera Bello (67) of Spain (67).
Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland fired a 69 and is another stroke behind in a tie for 11th with Ian Poulter (71) of England, Richie Ramsey (70) of Scotland and Ross Fisher (66) of England.
