Jordan Spieth part of three-way tie for British lead Jordan Spieth part of three-way tie for British lead CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) â€"...
Jordan Spieth part of three-way tie for British lead
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) â€" Jordan Spieth has a share of the lead in the British Open and a big edge in experience. Still only 24, he already has won three majors and his name is the last one etched on the base of the silver claret jug.
One name in the mix makes it all feel so new.
"I've always wanted to battle it out in a major with Tiger. Who hasn't?" Spieth said after seizing upon a calm Carnoustie for a 6-under 65 to tie for the lead with Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele. "It's kind of a dream come true just to have the opportunity."
Woods feels the same way.
Never in the mix at the Masters, gone by the weekend at the U.S. Open, the 14-time major champion surged into contention Saturday with a 66, his lowest round on weekend at a major in eight years.
He didn't have the best score. He was four shots behind.
But he's Tiger Woods, and it felt like that again to thousands of fans who crammed along the fairways and beind the greens as Woods ran off three straight birdies around the turn and then two-putted for birdie on the par-5 14th to work his way into a tie for the lead, even if that lasted for only 20 minutes.
"I've shown that I've been there close enough with a chance to win this year," Woods said. "Given what happened the last few years, I didn't know if that would ever happen again. But here I am with a chance coming Sunday in a major championship. It's going to be fun."
It was every bit of that on Saturday, a rare day when Carnoustie had little defense.
Justin Rose, who made the cut on the number with a birdie on his final hole, matched the Carnoustie record for the Open with a 64. Spieth set the tone in the afternoon when he decided on the way to the first tee to hit driver on th e 396-yard hole. He sent it bouncing and rolling along the firm turf, down a hill and onto the green to about 10 feet away for an eagle.
Moments later, Woods began his charge to get into contention at a major for the first time in five years.
It never stopped. Seven players had a share of the lead at one point. Kisner, who started the third round tied for the lead, was never far away but had to work hard to stay there. He made a tough par save on the 17th, and then got up-and-down from behind the 18th green for a 68.
Schauffele, the PGA Tour rookie of the year last season, holed a 30-foot putt from behind the 18th green for a 67.
More:Tiger shows vintage form in third round of Open
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They were at 9-under 204.
"We've got pretty much a new tournament tomorrow," Spieth said.
A dozen players were separated by four shots, which is nothin g considering that the last two British Open champions at Carnoustie rallied from 10 shots (Paul Lawrie) and six shots (Padraig Harrington) on the final day.
The wind is expected to be the strongest it has been all week. And then there's the presence of Woods, playing in the third-to-last group.
Woods started quietly enough with a few birdies through eight holes. He started his move with a 40-foot birdie putt on No. 9, followed with short birdie putts on the next two holes and with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 14th, he put his name atop the leaderboard.
It was there for only 20 minutes. But it was there.
A bogey on the 16th and a par save from short of the Barry Burn on the 18th gave him a 66. He figured it would at least keep him in range. He wound up as close to the lead as he has been in a major since he was two behind at Muirfield in the 2013 British Open.
"I'm right there," he said. "I've got a chance at this, which is great."
And he has company.
Kevin Chappell, who spent most of his round watching Spieth put on a show, birdied the 18th for a 67 and was two shots behind.
Francesco Molinari had a 66 and will play in the third-to-last group with Woods. They were last together three weeks ago when Woods presented him the trophy at the Quicken Loans National after Molinari shot 62 for an eight-shot victory.
Twelve players were separated by four shots, a group that includes Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Zach Johnson. They all dropped shots on a day when there was no time to be going backward. McIlroy was within two shots of the lead until bogeys on two of his last three holes for a 70 left him four behind.
Johnson, staying in the same house as Kisner, Spieth and four other Americans, hooked his approach on No. 12 and three-putted for a double bogey. He shot 72 and was in the group four behind. Joining them was Tommy Fleetwood, who dropped three shots in two hol es on the back nine on his way to a 71.
Of the five players separated by three shots, only Spieth has experience winning a major. He will try to become the first player since Padraig Harrington in 2008 to win golf's oldest championship in consecutive years.
His move started with a sudden decision.
The opening hole is 396 yards on the card, with the fairway getting narrow between two bunkers. Spieth, who spent Saturday morning watching the Open on television, asked caddie Michael Greller on the practice range, "Do we like driver?"
Greller told him no. Play short and it's a wedge to a front pin, easy birdie chance.
Spieth walked to the tee with coach Cameron McCormick and asked him, "How about I just send it on No. 1?"
"I felt good about the range session. And he's like, 'I put my chips behind anything you decide, always.' And that kind of gave me that little extra boost," Spieth said.
He stuffed his approach to 2 feet on No. 4 and made two short birdie putts until he came to the par-3 16th, when his 5-iron settled 12 feet away for his longest putt of the day.
This is the 16th time he has been in at least a share of the lead in the majors in the five years he has been playing them on a regular basis. And it's the first time he has had to look over his shoulder at Woods.
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Tiger Woods plays from the rough on the 18th hole during the third round. Fullscreen Jason Day reacts to his drive on the 18th tee during the third round. Fullscreen Tiger Woods reacts to his putt on the ninth green during the third round. Fullscreen Paul Casey plays from a green side bunker on the 13th during the third round. Fullscreen Chris Wood putts from near the out of bounds fence on the 18th hole during the third round. Fullscreen Tiger Woods lines up a putt on the seventh green during the third round. Fullscreen Patrick Cantlay watches as he plays out from behind a tree on the seventh during the third round. Fullscreen Kevin Kisner reacts to his putt on the 15th green during the second round. Fullscreen Tiger Woods plays his shot from the second tee during the second round. Fullscreen Rory McIlroy reacts to his putt on the 18th green during the second round. Fullscreen Fans watch from under umbrellas on the 14th green during the second round. Fullscreen Zach Johnson reacts on the 18th green during the second round. Fullscreen Rory McIlroy watches his shot during the second round. Fullscreen Tommy Fleetwood walks off the 18th green during the second round. Fullscreen Henrik Stenson dries his putter on the 18th green during the second round. Fullscreen Tiger Woods reacts to his pu tt on the 18th green during the second round. Fullscreen Russell Knox and Tiger Woods on the 12th hole during the second round. Fullscreen Jordan Spieth of the United States walks across the second green during the first round of the 147th British Open at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 19 in Scotland. Fullscreen Danny Willett of England lines up a putt on the 13th green during the first round of the British Open Golf Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland, on July 19. Fullscreen Phil Mickelson of the United States plays a shot from a bunker during the fifth hole during the first round of the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 19 in Scotland. F ullscreen Ernie Els of South Africa hits a bunker shot on the first hole during the first round of the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 19. Fullscreen Henrik Stenson of Sweden (L) looks into the Barry Burn from a bridge before the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 18. Fullscreen Rickie Fowler walks from the ninth tee during a practice round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Carnoustie Golf Links on July 18. Fullscreen Rory McIlroy and caddie Harry Diamond walk across the Barry Burn on the 17th hole during a practice round at The 147th Open golf Championship at Carnoustie, Scotland on July 18. Fullscreen Ror y McIlroy of Northern Ireland, left, and Shane Lowry of Ireland look at a phone during a practice round ahead of the British Open Golf Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland, on July 18. Fullscreen Kodai Ichihara of Japan hits a tee shot during a practice round July 18. Fullscreen Jason Day poses for a photo with a fan during a practice round. Fullscreen Jordan Spieth plays from the 6th tee during a practice round. Fullscreen Marshals hold up signs to quiet the crowd as Tiger Woods plays a shot from the fifth tee during a practice round prior to the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 16. Fullscreen A youn g fan and her dad watch a practice round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Carnoustie Golf Links. Fullscreen Police patrol the course on bicycles during practice at The 147th Open golf Championship at Carnoustie, Scotland on July 18. Fullscreen Rory McIlroy on the 13th green during a practice round before the British Open at Carnoustie Golf Links on July 16. Fullscreen During a practice round, Tiger Woods jokes around with Justin Thomas on the 12th green during a practice round for The Open Championship at Carnoustie on July 16. Fullscreen Ernie Els hits a practice shot on the 5th hole during a practice round before the British Open on July 16. Fulls creen During a practice round, Tiger Woods plays from a greenside bunker at the 8th before the British Open at Carnoustie on July 16. Fullscreen Dustin Johnson, left and Brooks Koepka share a joke while putting on the 16th green during a practice round for the 147th Open golf Championship at Carnoustie golf club on July 16. Fullscreen With little rain the last two months, Carnoustie is dry and brown. Jordan Spieth chips to the 15th green during a practice round July 16. Fullscreen Jovan Rebula hits a practice shot on the 5th hole during a practice round before the British Open on July 16. Fullscreen Tiger Woods on the 4th tee during the first practice session a t The 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie, Scotland on July 15. Fullscreen During a practice round, Charl Schwartzel hits out of a bunker at Carnoustie July 16. Fullscreen England's Paul Casey signs an autograph for a fan during a practice session at the British Open on July 16. Fullscreen Tiger Woods (left) with Justin Thomas and his caddie Jimmy Johnson on the 12th green during a practice round for The Open Championship golf tournament at Carnoustie Golf Links on July 16. Fullscreen Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays out of a bunker during a practice round before the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 16. Fullscreen A flag covered with autographs during a practice round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Carnoustie Golf Links. 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