Advertisement

Spieth’s big US tour lead as Aussie Jason Day tumbles

Australia's Jason Day slipped down the leaderboard at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Australia's Jason Day slipped down the leaderboard at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Photo: AAP

Jordan Spieth has taken control of the US PGA Tour’s Pebble Beach tournament as Australian veteran Geoff Ogilvy rose and countryman Jason Day went into reverse.

World No.6 Spieth needed only 10 putts on the back nine as he shot a seven-under-par 65 to take a six-shot lead at 17 under from two-time Pebble Beach winner Brandt Snedeker (67) going into the final round.

“I hit my lines today,” the 23-year-old Spieth said.

“There were a couple of putts that went in that I thought maybe had a chance to miss but other than that I hit my lines and they rolled right there which is a huge confidence boost for me.

“It’s been something I’ve been struggling with, my putter this year, compared to what I would call is standard for myself.

“I’ve been striking the ball really well but my third and ninth place finishes were off of very average putting on strokes gained.”

World No.4 Dustin Johnson (66) was a shot behind Snedeker, tied third with Kelly Kraft (66).

Day, the world No.1, had rocketed to a share of the halfway lead when he returned and completed the last 14 holes of an eight-under-par 64 on the Spyglass Hill course.

But his third round on Pebble Beach later in the day was in stark contrast, mixing two double bogeys and four bogeys with five birdies for a three-over 75 that sent him tumbling to a share of 11th place, 10 shots behind Spieth.

“It was just mistake after mistake and unfortunately, that’s sometimes how it goes,” Day said.

While Day fell, 39-year-old Ogilvy climbed.

The 2016 US Open champion has nine US tour titles but has not won since 2014 and struggled badly last year when he made only nine cuts from 22 starts with just one top 10 finish.

He showed signs of his best as he put together a blemish-free 66 on Pebble Beach to be tied sixth but still nine shots from Spieth.

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.