Reporting from SOUTHPORT, England — As well as he’s playing, Jordan Spieth could have a grip adjustment in his future.
He’s one good Sunday away from wrapping his hands around the Claret Jug.
Spieth shot a 5-under-par 65 on Saturday to create some distance from the field at 11 under heading into the final round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale.
History awaits. Spieth, who turns 24 next week, could join Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win three legs of a Grand Slam at age 23. Spieth won the Masters and U.S. Open in 2015 and has a three-shot lead over Matt Kuchar, who in turn has a three-shot lead over third-place Austin Connelly and Brooks Koepka.
The London-based oddsmaker Ladbrokes has Spieth as the 1-4 favorite to win the tournament. Kuchar is second at 4-1.
On a mostly sunny day when Brendan Grace shot a 62 — the lowest round in a major championship — Spieth never stumbled, recording five birdies and no bogeys.
So ruthlessly efficient and locked in was Spieth, that Kuchar, his playing partner, had to remind him to relish the moment as they walked up the No. 18 fairway toward the grandstands encircling the green.
“Typically, when I’m walking up to greens, I take out my notes and know where I’ve been,” Spieth said. “I’ve got a greens book. I’m trying to get an idea what the putt’s going to do as I walk up. I started to take out my book, and saw the 18th hole and I’m like, ‘I can’t.’ This is not worthy of this.
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Jordan Spieth plays out of a bunker on the 17th hole during the third round of the British Open Golf Championship, at Royal Birkdale.
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Branden Grace after completing the 18th hole in the third round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Birkdale on July 22. Grace shot a 62.
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Brooks Koepka plays out of a bunker on the 7th green during the third round of the British Open Golf Championship, at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
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Rory McIlroy reacts to a missed putt during the third round of the British Open Golf Championship, at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
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Matt Kuchar misses a birdie putt on the 18th during the third round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
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Matt Kuchar is mobbed by fans as he makes his way to the next hole during the third round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
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Jordan Spieth of the United States smiles in the rain during the third round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
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England’s Ian Poulter looks on from the 14th tee box during the third round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
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Jordan Spieth plays out of a bunker on the 17th hole during the third round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
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Gary Woodland takes a shot out of the rough on the 10th hole during the third round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
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Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar walk to the 14th green during the third round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
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Brooks Koepka plays out of a bunker on the 7th green during the third round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
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China’s Li Haotong fails to get out of a bunker on the 12th hole during his second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Matt Kuchar hits his second shot on the 3rd hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Rules officials help remove a signpost to allow Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland to play on the 15th hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Dustin Johnson plays from the rough on the 8th hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland chips onto the green during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Spectators watch play on the 10th green as conditions deteriorate during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Australia’s Jason Day, left, and Zach Johnson on the 2nd green during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel looks for his ball in the rough on the 5th hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks off the 14th tee during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Haotong Li of China hits a bunker shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland chips onto the 11th green during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Rickie Fowler hits his tee shot on the 9th hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Dustin Johnson hits his tee shot on the 5th hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Sergio Garcia of Spain walks on the 1st hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Joost Luiten of the Netherlands falls back into a bunker after missing a putt on the 8th green during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Padraig Harrington of Ireland acknowledges the crowd on the 18th hole during the first round of the 146th British Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on Thursday.
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Si Woo Kim of Korea putts on the 12th hole during the first round of the championship at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.
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Jordan Spieth hits a bunker shot on the 15th hole at Royal Birkdale.
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Matthew Fitzpatrick of England lines up his putt on the 18th green on Thursday.
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Brooks Koepka of the U.S. holes his third shot from the bunker on the 17th hole.
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Jordan Spieth reacts after his approach from the rough on the 5th hole during the first round.
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Tommy Fleetwood of England plays from a bunker on Thursday.
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Ian Poulter of England plays his third shot on the 17th hole.
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France’s Alexander Levy plays his approach shot from the 3rd fairway.
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Spectators get a view of the 9th hole at Royal Birkdale.
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David Horsey of England hits his second shot on the 2nd hole during the first round of the British Open.
(Christian Petersen / Getty Images) “Everyone is giving us an ovation, and it’s time to appreciate that, enjoy the walk, but also say thank you for the support that these crowds give.”
Kuchar shot a 66, and that includes a double-bogey on 16, when he drove into a fairway bunker, had to punch out and had a three-putt after his approach. One small lapse, but one that can be costly for a player who has earned nearly $40 million yet has never won a major.
Kuchar recovered with a birdie on 17 and a near-birdie on 18 that just slid past the hole.
“We certainly had a great round of golf,” Kuchar said. “I never felt like I was out there trying to beat Jordan. It’s trying to go up against Royal Birkdale and put on the best show you can against the golf course.”
Spieth is not immune to meltdowns on the biggest of stages. His quadruple-bogey of the par-3 12th hole at Augusta National cost him the Masters in 2016. In April, he had Sunday problems on that hole again when he was in contention. He wound up with double-bogey and eventually finished in a tie for 11th.
He said he can “absolutely” draw on those memories from the Masters and use them to help him Sunday.
“It was a humbling experience that I thought at the time could serve me well going forward,” he said. “And if I don’t win tomorrow, it has nothing to do with that. It has to do with it was someone else’s day, and I didn’t play as well as I should have.”
On quite a few occasions, Spieth has held at least a share of the lead on the weekend of a major. He wouldn’t change that, but it comes with its own pressures.
“It’s a different feeling, and one that’s harder to sleep with,” said Spieth, who won eight of the last nine times he had a 54-hole lead. “You almost kind of see the finish line. And you control your own destiny.”
Like Spieth, another young Texan is also in the hunt. Connelly shot a 66 in which he more than offset two bogeys with four birdies and an eagle.
“I never felt nerves from the first tee on, which is surprising to me,” said Connelly, 20, playing in his first major. “I was very calm. I think it has to do with I’m very confident with how I’m hitting it.”
Rory McIlroy, who won the Open at Royal Liverpool in 2014, had an uneven performance Saturday, with five birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey. He’s in a four-way tie for 11th heading into the final day.
“I definitely feel like today was an opportunity lost to get right in the mix going into tomorrow,” McIlroy said.
As is often the case with the British Open, the weather can change everything. The forecast calls for some sunny spells during the afternoon, with only a 20% chance of showers.
That’s good news for Spieth and Kuchar, who are scheduled to tee off in the final twosome at 2:30 p.m. local time.
“My game plan is going to take shape around 12 o’clock tomorrow,” Spieth said. “I’m going to have to see what’s forecasted and I’m able to fortunately watch coverage, see where misses are, see what putts do. It’s actually a nice advantage to have.”
If all goes as planned, he may even take a look around.
sam.farmer@latimes.com
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