Jordan Spieth fought his swing to a virtual draw on Saturday and finished the third round of the AT&T Byron Nelson where he began it, in second place.
Spieth hit only seven of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens in regulation, but still managed to post a three-under par 67 at the TPC Four Seasons Resort in Las Colinas, Texas. Through 54 holes, Spieth is at 14-under par 196, two behind new leader Brooks Koepka.
There was no pattern to his wayward tee shots; some went right, some went left. And unlike the first two rounds, when he hit 16 and 17 greens in regulation, he needed his short-game expertise to rescue him.
Spieth, a Dallas native, has never finished higher in this event than the tie for 16th he posted as a 16-year-old amateur in 2010.
Koepka, seeking his second PGA Tour victory, shot a five-under par 65 in a round that included seven birdies.
Second-round leader Ben Crane, meanwhile, shot a 72 to fall six strokes off the lead.
Sergio Garcia, Matt Kuchar and Bud Cauley are tied for third, three off Koepke’s lead.
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