Sublime Spieth takes John Deere lead

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July 12, 2015

Jordan Spieth fired a 10-under 61 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the John Deere Classic.

The 61 was the lowest round of Spieth’s career, bettering his 62 at the RBC Heritage earlier this year and at the 2013 Deutsche Bank Championship.

The world number two’s brilliance saw him rise two clear of Danny Lee – who was on fire himself with a round of 62. Overnight leader Justin Thomas, Johnson Wagner, and Shawn Stefani are a further shot back.

Play on Saturday was suspended twice due to rain, making the course even softer than usual and conditions perfect for low scoring. Spieth made sure he made the most of the conditions, putting on a world class display of golf in a round that included two eagles and six birdies.

Having begun the day eight shots off the pace, Spieth was soon on the move, registering an eagle at the par-five second hole after putting his approach within three feet, before adding three birdies on the front nine to take the turn in 30.

The best was yet to come though, with a birdie at the 13th the start of a great closing run.

The Texan was four-under for the last three holes, with a birdie at the 16th followed by an incredible eagle at the 17th. From 107 yards Spieth holed out with a sand wedge for an eagle-three that took him into the lead. What made the eagle even more remarkable was that his tee shot had found the trees,and it was only with his second that he made it to the fairway. A 15-foot birdie putt at the last rounded out the scoring in a magical round of 61.

While Spieth may steal the headlines, he has a strong challenger to contend with in Lee.

Having claimed his maiden PGA Tour win at last week’s Greenbrier Classic, Lee followed up back-to-back 68s with a blemish-free round of 62 that included nine birdies.

Thomas had enjoyed at least a share of the lead for the opening two rounds, but he struggled to get going on a day in which others were really moving. The American had a seven-foot putt at the last for a share of second, but pushed it wide. Thomas is joined on 14-under by Stefani and Wagner who carder rounds of 64 and 68 respectively.

A further shot back are Zach Johnson (66), Daniel Summerhays (68) and Tom Gillis (69). Summerhays had briefly held the lead after a run of five birdies in six holes from the second to the seventh, but back-to-back bogeys to open the closing nine saw him drop down the leaderboard.