Spieth extends lead in Hawaii

There is no stopping world number one Jordan Spieth, who is within touching distance of the Tournament of Champions crown after surging five shots clear on Saturday.

Published : Jan 10, 2016 15:25 IST , Hawai

World number one Jordan Spieth
World number one Jordan Spieth
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World number one Jordan Spieth

There is no stopping world number one Jordan Spieth, who is within touching distance of the Tournament of Champions crown after surging five shots clear on Saturday. Spieth carded his third consecutive round in the 60s by shooting an eight-under-par 65 on the penultimate day in Hawaii.

The Masters and U.S. Open champion, who was four shots ahead at the start of play but had his lead cut to just one by a surging Brooks Koepka, posted seven birdies and a final-hole eagle to be 24 under through 54 holes at the Kapalua Resort.

With just one bogey through the first three rounds, 22-year-old Spieth is now poised to win his seventh PGA Tour title, with fellow American Koepka needing to overturn a five-stroke deficit. Koepka capitulated himself up the leaderboard and into outright second courtesy of a 10-under-par 63 - the lowest round of the week and the best of his career.

The 25-year-old was set up by six successive birdies from holes three to eight on the front nine. Countryman and defending champion Patrick Reed remains in contention, lurking six shots back in third following a third-round 67.

Brandt Snedeker (65) and Fabian Gomez (70) are tied for fourth at 15 under heading into Sunday's finale. Last year's runner-up Jimmy Walker made nine birdies in a blemish-free 64 to be level alongside Steven Bowditch (69), Rickie Fowler (69) and Kevin Kisner (71).

Peter Malnati (69) and Danny Lee (71) are a shot further back at 13 under. 

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