Jordan Spieth is in prime position to claim his third major title as he takes a three-shot lead into the final round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale on Sunday.
AFP
The American star sits atop the leaderboard on 11 under par after shooting a flawless 65 on Saturday -- his third consecutive round in the 60s -- while compatriot Matt Kuchar is his nearest challenge at eight-under.
Spieth, winner of the Masters and US Open in 2015, had held a two-stroke lead over Kuchar at the halfway stage and kept his rival at bay all afternoon on Saturday before extending the advantage when he birdied the 18th.
Spieth has been at the top of the leaderboard after each of the first three rounds this week, but as he comes into the finale memories are still fresh of his stunning collapse in the last round of the 2016 Masters.
Then he led after each of the first three rounds and was five shots clear approaching the 10th hole on the Sunday, only to drop six shots in three holes and eventually lose out to England's Danny Willett.
"I think I'm in a position where it can be very advantageous, just everything I've gone through, the good, the bad, and everything in the middle," said the world number three when asked if he would use that experience to his advantage on Sunday."
"I understand that leads can be squandered quickly, and I also understand how you can keep on rolling on one," said Spieth.
If the Texan sees out the victory he will follow in the footsteps of the great Jack Nicklaus by getting three-quarters of the way to a grand slam in the majors before his 24th birthday -- he turns 24 next week.
Kuchar, 39, has never triumphed in a major but then the last seven majors have all gone to first-time winners and five of the last six British Opens have been won by players aged 39 or older.
The duo will be the last pair out on the course as they tee off at 2:30pm local time on Sunday afternoon.
Behind Kuchar, there is a gap to Canada's 20-year-old Open debutant Austin Connelly and current US Open champion Brooks Koepka, who are both on five under par.
Japan's world number two Hideki Matsuyama and Branden Grace of South Africa are both four-under with the latter fresh from becoming the first player ever to shoot a round of 62 in a major championship on Saturday.
