SOUTHPORT, England – At high noon here Sunday, Jordan Spieth should have a full grasp of the gameplan he hopes will produce his third major title. Although he’ll still be 2-1/2 hours away from his opening tee shot in the final round at Royal Birkdale, he’ll have benefitted from watching the earlier coverage of The Open Championship on TV. He’ll see how the course is playing, where the pins are, how the greens are rolling, how the conditions are impacting scores. Will it be a tough, hang-on type of day like Friday? Or will he need an aggressive approach, the kind he used Saturday when Royal Birkdale handed out red numbers like it was last call at the local pub? Yet there are two things he already knows he must do: (bullet) Play like he’s tied for the lead. Spieth is 11 under par and goes into Sunday with a three-shot cushion over Matt Kuchar. The next closest pursuers – U.S. Open champ Brooks Koepka and Spieth’s fellow Dallas resident Austin Connelly — are six shots back. It would be easy for Spieth to simply lay back and wait for anybody to challenge him. To play safe. But taking a defensive posture would be a detriment. After all, trying to avoid making mistakes is a recipe for making more of them. “I think I will assume that we are tied for the lead,â€� Spieth said. (bullet) Hit as many greens as possible. One of the key strategies all week for Spieth has been staying out of Royal Birkdale’s pot bunkers. He’s found a few, but he’s made just four bogeys this week, all in the second round in rainy, windy conditions. He shot bogey-free 5-under 65s in the first and third rounds, and there’s every reason to think he can avoid trouble again Sunday, provided his driver cooperates to set up the crisp irons he’s displayed here. “It’s all about greens in regulation,â€� said Spieth, who hit 15 of them on Thursday and 14 on Saturday. “If the conditions are tough and you have to lay it further back and play further away from holes, so be it. But having a putter in my hand for birdie is the most important thing for tomorrow.â€� Spieth’s ability to execute his gameplan at Royal Birkdale is why he’s on the verge of adding the Open to his major resume and moving three-quarters of the way to the career Grand Slam. Entering Saturday with a two-shot lead over Kuchar, he knew early on that scoring conditions were incredibly favorable – even though he saw only one hole of Branden Grace’s major-record 62. Previously anticipating that pars would be a really good score, Spieth adjusted his thinking, approaching par as just “OKâ€� on Saturday. “Royal Birkdale, notoriously difficult, had just become one of the easier golf courses that we play for one round for the year,â€� Spieth said. “You just kind of got to change that in your mind.â€� By the time he arrived on the first tee Saturday, he had an additional gameplan. This one included Kuchar. “Our gameplan when we stood on the tee was, let’s push each other to separate and get this pairing tomorrow,â€� Spieth said. “That’s kind of what we wanted to do.â€� While Spieth shot 65, Kuchar shot a 4-under 66 that included a double-bogey at the par-4 16th in which he found a bunker and also three-putted. Kuchar is hoping to become the eighth consecutive first-time winner in a major, but that double may come back to haunt him. On Sunday, Kuchar won’t be worrying about separating from the pack. His focus now is pretty easy: catch Spieth. But even though Kuchar has plenty of success in match play-type environments – he won the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play in 2013 — he plans to avoid any kind of head-to-head showdown with his playing partner. “I’ll be playing with him but not focused on him,â€� Kuchar said. “My goal is to go out and play Royal Birkdale. “I’ll know exactly where we stand but I don’t know how much that ever helps you. You just have to go out and hit the best shot for that situation. I’ve been on some good form. The formula has produced a lot of good golf, and I hope it continues to produce some good golf tomorrow.â€� He’ll probably need some help from Spieth, but the 23-year-old Texan – he turns 24 next week – seems to have a pretty good formula for holding 54 holes. Of his last nine 54-hole leads on the PGA TOUR, he’s converted eight of them into victories. The lone miss was the 2016 Masters, when he put two balls in the water at the 12th in the final round and shot a 73, opening the door for Englishman Danny Willett. It was a harsh lesson, but one Spieth thinks ultimately will prove valuable. “I understand that leads can be squandered quickly, and I also understand how you can keep on rolling on one,â€� Spieth said. “It was a humbling experience that I thought at the time could serve me well going forward.â€� No matter the outcome on Sunday, Spieth doesn’t think the 2016 Masters will have a specific impact at Royal Birkdale. “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,â€� Spieth said. “And if I win tomorrow, it has nothing to do with that, either.â€� What it will come down to is simply this: executing his gameplan. Spieth’s been nearly flawless for the first three rounds. Difficult to imagine that Sunday will be any different.
Spieth sticking to the gameplan
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Final Round Match-Ups – D. Burmester vs H. English | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Dean Burmester | -115 |
Harris English | -105 |
Final Round Match-Ups – A. Eckroat vs J. Rose | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Austin Eckroat | -115 |
Justin Rose | -105 |
Final Round Match-Ups – T. Finau vs S. Theegala | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Sahith Theegala | -120 |
Tony Finau | +100 |
Final Round Match-Ups – L. Herbert vs T. Detry | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Thomas Detry | -125 |
Lucas Herbert | +105 |
Final Round Match-Ups – B. Horschel vs T. Hoge | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Billy Horschel | -110 |
Tom Hoge | -110 |
Final Round Match-Ups – V. Hovland vs J. Thomas | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Justin Thomas | -115 |
Viktor Hovland | -105 |
Final Round Match-Ups – M.W. Lee vs W. Zalatoris | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Will Zalatoris | -115 |
Min Woo Lee | -105 |
Final Round Match-Ups – S. Lowry vs K. Bradley | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Keegan Bradley | -115 |
Shane Lowry | -105 |
Final Round Match-Ups – R. McIntyre vs T. Moore | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Moore | -125 |
Robert MacIntyre | +105 |
Final Round Match-Ups – H. Matsuyama vs J. Day | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | -115 |
Hideki Matsuyama | -105 |
Final Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa vs B. DeChambeau | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Bryson DeChambeau | -115 |
Collin Morikawa | -105 |
Final Round Match-Ups – A. Noren vs T. Kim | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Tom Kim | -115 |
Alex Noren | -105 |
Final Round Match-Ups – A. Rai vs M. Wallace | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | -115 |
Matt Wallace | -105 |
Final Round Match-Ups – X. Schauffele vs S. Scheffler | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -160 |
Xander Schauffele | +135 |
Final Round Match-Ups – C. Smith vs M. Homa | |
Type: Final Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Max Homa | -120 |
Cameron Smith | +100 |
Final Round 2-Balls – J. Wells / A. Tosti | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alejandro Tosti | -225 |
Jeremy Wells | +185 |
Final Round 2-Balls – S. Soderberg / B. Todd | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sebastian Soderberg | -115 |
Brendon Todd | -105 |
Final Round 2-Balls – R. Hojgaard / J. Smith | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Rasmus Hojgaard | -115 |
Jordan Smith | -105 |
Final Round 2-Balls – S.H. Kim / D. Johnson | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Dustin Johnson | -125 |
S H Kim | -105 |
Mizuho Americas Open | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Nelly Korda | -220 |
Hannah Green | +700 |
Ayaka Furue | +1400 |
Gabriela Ruffels | +1600 |
Jennifer Kupcho | +3500 |
Sei Young Kim | +5500 |
Xiyu Lin | +5500 |
Pajaree Anannarukarn | +6000 |
Ariya Jutanugarn | +9000 |
Atthaya Thitikul | +10000 |
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Final Round 2-Balls – A. Putnam / R. Fox | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ryan Fox | -125 |
Andrew Putnam | +105 |
Final Round 2-Balls – T. Gooch / S. Jaeger | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Talor Gooch | -115 |
Stephan Jaeger | -105 |
Final Round 2-Balls – A. Hadwin / E. Van Royen | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Adam Hadwin | -115 |
Erik Van Rooyen | -105 |
Final Round 2-Balls – G. Woodland / G. Murray | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Grayson Murray | -120 |
Gary Woodland | +100 |
Final Round 2-Balls – P. Cantlay / L. Donald | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -290 |
Luke Donald | +230 |
Final Round 2-Balls – T. Fleetwood / J. Svensson | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Tommy Fleetwood | -205 |
Jesper Svensson | +165 |
Final Round 2-Balls – J. Niemann / R. Fowler | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Joaquin Niemann | -160 |
Rickie Fowler | +135 |
Final Round 2-Balls – P. Reed / C. Young | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Young | -140 |
Patrick Reed | +115 |
Final Round 2-Balls – B. Shattuck / B. Hun An | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Byeong Hun An | -300 |
Braden Shattuck | +240 |
Final Round 2-Balls – B. Koepka / N. Hojgaard | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brooks Koepka | -185 |
Nicolai Hojgaard | +150 |
Final Round 2-Balls – A. Svensson / T. Olesen | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Thorbjorn Olesen | -115 |
Adam Svensson | -105 |
Final Round 2-Balls – A. Bjork / L. Glover | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Lucas Glover | -155 |
Alexander Bjork | +130 |
Final Round 2-Balls – T. Hatton / C. Conners | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Tyrrell Hatton | -120 |
Corey Conners | +100 |
Final Round 2-Balls – B. Harman / M. Kaymer | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brian Harman | -180 |
Martin Kaymer | +150 |
Final Round 2-Balls – B. Garnett / M.W. Lee | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Min Woo Lee | -180 |
Brice Garnett | +150 |
Final Round 2 Balls – L. Coughlin / Y. Nishimura | |
Type: Final Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Lauren Coughlin | -105 |
Yuna Nishimura | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
Final Round 2-Balls – K. Kitayama / W. Zalatoris | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Will Zalatoris | -120 |
Kurt Kitayama | +100 |
Final Round 2 Balls – I.G. Chun / J. Shin | |
Type: Final Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jenny Shin | -130 |
In Gee Chun | +145 |
Tie | +750 |
Final Round 2-Balls – B. Kohles / C. Smith | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Smith | -190 |
Ben Kohles | +155 |
Final Round 2-Balls – D. Ghim / A. Noren | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | -145 |
Doug Ghim | +120 |
Final Round 2 Balls – A. Thitikul / N. Hataoka | |
Type: Final Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Atthaya Thitikul | +100 |
Nasa Hataoka | +110 |
Tie | +750 |
Final Round 2-Balls – J. Day / Z. Blair | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | -230 |
Zac Blair | +185 |
Final Round 2 Balls – M. Kang / A. Buhai | |
Type: Final Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ashleigh Buhai | -140 |
Minji Kang | +150 |
Tie | +750 |
Final Round 2-Balls – M. McNealy / B. Horschel | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Billy Horschel | -115 |
Maverick McNealy | -105 |
Final Round 2 Balls – B. Tardy / P. Tavatanakit | |
Type: Final Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Patty Tavatanakit | -190 |
Bailey Tardy | +210 |
Tie | +750 |
Final Round 2 Balls – A. Jutanugarn / S.M. Lee | |
Type: Final Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ariya Jutanugarn | -135 |
So Mi Lee | +150 |
Tie | +750 |
Final Round 2-Balls – M. Homa / T. Hoge | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Max Homa | -165 |
Tom Hoge | +135 |
Final Round 2 Balls – M. Jutanugarn / A. Lee | |
Type: Final Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Andrea Lee | -110 |
Moriya Jutanugarn | +120 |
Tie | +750 |
Final Round 2-Balls – S. Scheffler / M. Hubbard | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -350 |
Mark Hubbard | +280 |
Final Round 2 Balls – B. Pagdanganan / X. Lin | |
Type: Final Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Xiyu Lin | -165 |
Bianca Pagdanganan | +180 |
Tie | +750 |
Final Round 2 Balls – P. Anannarukarn / S.Y. Kim | |
Type: Final Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sei Young Kim | -150 |
Pajaree Anannarukarn | +170 |
Tie | +750 |
Final Round 2-Balls – H. Matsuyama / R. Hisatsune | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Hideki Matsuyama | -165 |
Ryo Hisatsune | +140 |
Final Round 2 Balls – S. Popov / J. Kupcho | |
Type: Final Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jennifer Kupcho | -180 |
Sophia Popov | +200 |
Tie | +750 |
Final Round 2-Balls – R. McIIroy / T. Kim | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Rory McIlroy | -220 |
Tom Kim | +180 |
Final Round 2 Balls – A. Furue / G. Ruffels | |
Type: Final Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ayaka Furue | -105 |
Gabriela Ruffels | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
Final Round 2-Balls – J. Spieth / R. Henley | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | -120 |
Russell Henley | +100 |
Final Round 2 Balls – N. Korda / H. Green | |
Type: Final Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nelly Korda | -160 |
Hannah Green | +180 |
Tie | +750 |
Final Round 2-Balls – K. Bradley / T. Moore | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Keegan Bradley | -115 |
Taylor Moore | -105 |
Final Round 2-Balls – T. Detry / L. Herbert | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Lucas Herbert | -110 |
Thomas Detry | -110 |
Final Round 2-Balls – H. English / A. Eckroat | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | -125 |
Austin Eckroat | +105 |
Final Round 2-Balls – J. Thomas / T. Finau | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Justin Thomas | -125 |
Tony Finau | +105 |
Final Round 2-Balls – D. Burmester / L. Hodges | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Dean Burmester | -155 |
Lee Hodges | +130 |
Final Round 2-Balls – J. Rose / R. MacIntyre | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Justin Rose | -115 |
Robert MacIntyre | -105 |
Final Round 2-Balls – B. DeChambeau / V. Hovland | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Bryson DeChambeau | -120 |
Viktor Hovland | +100 |
Final Round 2-Balls – S. Theegala / S. Lowry | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sahith Theegala | -130 |
Shane Lowry | +110 |
Final Round 2-Balls – X. Schauffele / C. Morikawa | |
Type: Final Round 2-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Xander Schauffele | -125 |
Collin Morikawa | +105 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Xander Schauffele | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
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Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +175 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |