American moves up at Australian Open

Home > Sports > Football

American moves up at Australian Open

Published: 30 Nov. 2014, 20:51

American Jordan Spieth was one of few players to master a wind-swept course at the Australian Open on Saturday, shooting a 2-under 69 to move into a three-way share of the lead.

Adam Scott stayed close while defending champion Rory McIlroy dropped five shots in two holes and shot 76.

Spieth, second-round leader Greg Chalmers (71) and fellow Australian Brett Rumford (69) had three-round totals of 5-under 208 on a tough Australian Golf Club course and its swirling, unpredictable winds. Only eight players were under par.

‘’They’re baked [the greens], they’re very shiny, they’ve firmed up significantly and then with this wind, there were putts that were lightning fast,’’ Spieth said. “I almost prefer it, wind and a very difficult golf course, I feel like plays into my hands.’’

Scott shot 69 and was tied for fourth, a stroke behind the leading trio, along with Australian veteran Rod Pampling (69).

McIlroy, who had a triple bogey on the ninth hole and a double-bogey on 10, was six strokes from the lead, tied for 14th.

He was tied for the lead at 4-under and even on the day when he hit his tee shot on the par-4 ninth into waist-high rough. After failing to advance it and burying it in matting used to control weeds, he took a penalty drop, sliced that and finally got on the green in 5, where he two-putted for 7.

AP