Spieth Storms to Huge Lead in Hero World Challenge


Jordan Spieth carded his best round yet in the Hero World Challenge. On Saturday the 21-year-old from Dallas matched the one-day-old course record of 9-under 63 to forge a seemingly insurmountable lead heading into Sunday's final round.

The 18-player, $3.5 million event started Thursday at Isleworth in Windermere, Fla.

After posting four birdies on the front nine, Spieth - who's coming off a victory in last week's Australian Open and is currently the hottest player on the planet - tacked on five more on the home half to reach 20-under 196, seven shots ahead of Keegan Bradley (65) and Sweden's Henrik Stenson (68).

Spieth opened with scores of 66 and 67. Last Sunday at the Australian Club near Sydney, he fired a 63 to win by six shots, continuing a recent streak in which he's gone 47-under par in 10 rounds over his previous three events (including the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan before Australia).

"63 is a score I didn't necessarily see coming for myself," he said at greenside. "I got a lot of nice bounces.

"I'll take that round out here any day. It's a good position to be in but I've really got to keep my head down and stay focused. There are no leaderboards out here [on the golf course] which may help me. I'm going to have to pick a number and really grind to shoot it tomorrow."

Spieth has actually been playing outstanding golf since the Ryder Cup, where, in the first of likely many times Spieth will play in the biennial competition, he recorded a respectable 2-1-1 record against the Europeans at Gleneagles in Scotland.

"The experience at the Ryder Cup was huge," he said Saturday. "I try (now) to use the pressure you feel at the Ryder Cup for every single shot."

Patrick Reed, who set the new course record on Friday with a 63, is now in fourth at 11-under 205 after a 69, while another stroke back is England's Justin Rose, who followed up a second-round 64 with a 70.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (68) shares seventh at 209 with Matt Kuchar (70), Rickie Fowler (70) and Bubba Watson (72). Defending champion Zach Johnson posted a 72 and is in 11th at 210.

Rounding out the leaderboard in a tie for 12th at 212 are Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (71) and Americans Billy Horschel (67), Chris Kirk (74) and Jimmy Walker (75).

Hunter Mahan is in 16th at 213 after his third consecutive 71, while another stroke back is Steve Stricker (74).

Still in last place is tournament host Tiger Woods, who went one stroke better than his 70 Friday and managed to get to even-par 216 entering the final round. He opened with a 77.

The five-time winner of the tournament, which benefits his Tiger Woods Foundation, is playing in his first competition since missing the cut in the PGA Championship in August.

The four-month layoff occurred while he rehabilitated his surgically repaired back. Woods has also been integrating a revamped golf swing, overseen by new coach Chris Como. Complicating matters this week is that he's been suffering from a fever and flu-like symptoms.

After his round Saturday, a hoarse but smiling Woods said of his 69, "Not bad. I'm only 15 back."

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