Spieth Fires 67 to Rise into First at Shell Houston Open


Dallas native Jordan Spieth carded his third straight round in the 60s to take the 54-hole lead at the Shell Houston Open. The $6.6 million PGA Tour event is taking place at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.

After opening with a 69 and 66, the 21-year-old Spieth carded six birdies and a bogey to reach 14-under 202, a stroke ahead of first-round leader Scott Piercy and Johnson Wagner, who each had 66s, and Tour rookie Austin Cook (70).

Piercy began with a course-record-setting 9-under 63 on Thursday but slipped back after a 74 Friday. But in the third round, the 36-year-old from Las Vegas rebounded with six birdies and no bogeys.

Wagner, a 35-year-old from Amarillo who earned the first of his three PGA Tour titles at the 2008 Houston Open, recorded seven birdies - including five on the front nine - and a bogey to stay close to the lead.

After his round, Spieth said at greenside during a brief TV interview, "The course played tougher with the northeast wind. I drove the ball extremely well and gave myself some chances."

As for Sunday and sewing up his third career title on home turf and in the final tune-up before next week's Masters, Spieth added, "I'm not going to think about being up, I'll think about playing the golf course. I have to shoot a good, solid under-par round to win."

Lurking two strokes back is another Texan, Baytown's Shawn Stefani (69), while three back are two Brits - Kelvin Day and Paul Casey, who each had 68s - and Americans Charles Howell III (69) and Russell Henley (68).

San Antonio's Patrick Reed (67, aided by an ace on the 178-yard 16th hole) and Vermont's Keegan Bradley (70) share 10th at 206, while another stroke back are Americans Cameron Tringale (69), Michael Putnam (71), Hunter Mahan (72) and Luke Guthrie (73), Spaniard Sergio Garcia (69) and Czech-German Alex Cejka (70).

Midway leader Andrew Putnam, Michael's younger brother, slipped down the leaderboard into a tie for 18th following a 76. Phil Mickelson began Saturday trailing Andrew Putnam by a stroke along with Cook.

But Lefty, after a birdie and a double-bogey on the front half, struggled coming home with four bogeys - including three in a row on the final three holes - and just two birdies to join Andrew Putnam and six others in 18th at 208.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.