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| Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth share Players Championship lead | Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth share Players Championship lead |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The first Saturday blink in the duel between Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth arrived on the 18th green. As Kaymer's par putt slid left of the hole, he was left in an overnight tie with Spieth at 12 under par. Moments earlier, Spieth had holed out from the fringe. Parity seemed fitting. This proved an engaging, if never thrilling, third-round battle that will spill into the Players Championship's final day. Kaymer is seeking to endorse his return to form with a first victory on the PGA Tour since 2011. Should Spieth triumph, he would be the youngest winner in the history of the event. All that is missing in the rapid rise to prominence of the 20-year-old Spieth is success in a high-profile event. | The first Saturday blink in the duel between Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth arrived on the 18th green. As Kaymer's par putt slid left of the hole, he was left in an overnight tie with Spieth at 12 under par. Moments earlier, Spieth had holed out from the fringe. Parity seemed fitting. This proved an engaging, if never thrilling, third-round battle that will spill into the Players Championship's final day. Kaymer is seeking to endorse his return to form with a first victory on the PGA Tour since 2011. Should Spieth triumph, he would be the youngest winner in the history of the event. All that is missing in the rapid rise to prominence of the 20-year-old Spieth is success in a high-profile event. |
| Spieth could create history even before close of play on Sunday. He has played 54 holes without a single dropped shot, moving him to within 12 of the tournament record established by Greg Norman two decades ago. | Spieth could create history even before close of play on Sunday. He has played 54 holes without a single dropped shot, moving him to within 12 of the tournament record established by Greg Norman two decades ago. |
| Kaymer's third-round 72 was his highest score of the tournament. Until his aberration on the last, caused by a pushed tee shot from which he could not recover, the former world No1 had appeared in perfect control of his game and emotions. "Today felt a bit like a Ryder Cup match," said Kaymer. "Jordan is one of the best players out here right now, so I think he deserves at much attention as possible because he's a young player, very mature, and I hope he has a long career ahead of him. And for me if there's less attention on me right now, I'll take it." | Kaymer's third-round 72 was his highest score of the tournament. Until his aberration on the last, caused by a pushed tee shot from which he could not recover, the former world No1 had appeared in perfect control of his game and emotions. "Today felt a bit like a Ryder Cup match," said Kaymer. "Jordan is one of the best players out here right now, so I think he deserves at much attention as possible because he's a young player, very mature, and I hope he has a long career ahead of him. And for me if there's less attention on me right now, I'll take it." |
| Spieth, who had maintained his unblemished record time and again with Saturday par saves, bettered that by a stroke. The Texan's solitary birdie had arrived on the par-5 11th. | Spieth, who had maintained his unblemished record time and again with Saturday par saves, bettered that by a stroke. The Texan's solitary birdie had arrived on the par-5 11th. |
| Not that the denouement of golf's so-called fifth major should automatically be categorised as a two-horse race. A batch of players perfectly capable of winning sit within five shots of the leaders. Should Kaymer and Spieth stumble, danger lies behind. Sergio García's delight at carding a 69 was evident with a fist-pump at the 18th green. "I still would have been happy with 70," Garcia said. "But I had dropped a shot on the 17th; to finish bogey-bogey would have felt bitter." | Not that the denouement of golf's so-called fifth major should automatically be categorised as a two-horse race. A batch of players perfectly capable of winning sit within five shots of the leaders. Should Kaymer and Spieth stumble, danger lies behind. Sergio García's delight at carding a 69 was evident with a fist-pump at the 18th green. "I still would have been happy with 70," Garcia said. "But I had dropped a shot on the 17th; to finish bogey-bogey would have felt bitter." |
| Lee Westwood lies two shots further back, despite bogeying the last. There was an even more cruel end to day three for Justin Rose, who was retrospectively punished two strokes after magnified television replays deemed his ball to have moved as he addressed it through the back of the 18th green. Rose's 71 became a 73, knocking him back to five under. | Lee Westwood lies two shots further back, despite bogeying the last. There was an even more cruel end to day three for Justin Rose, who was retrospectively punished two strokes after magnified television replays deemed his ball to have moved as he addressed it through the back of the 18th green. Rose's 71 became a 73, knocking him back to five under. |
| Rory McIlroy's love-hate relationship with this venue continued, after a front nine of 38 was followed up by turning for home in seven shots fewer. McIlroy has played the back half in 12 under par over the first three days of the Players; thereby endorsing his woes earlier on the course. "It has definitely been a game of two halves for me this week," McIlroy said. "I don't know what it is, I can't seem to get my head around the front nine here but the back nine I am really comfortable on. | |
| "There are loads of positives in there. I played the last 12 holes in seven under par today to shoot something in the 60s for the first time this week so I have to be happy with that." | "There are loads of positives in there. I played the last 12 holes in seven under par today to shoot something in the 60s for the first time this week so I have to be happy with that." |
| Adam Scott lies on the same aggregate score as McIlroy, three under, and therefore retains aspirations of dislodging Tiger Woods from the No1 spot in golf's world rankings. Scott could, though, still be upstaged in that quest by Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson or Henrik Stenson. That trio all sit on a five under. | Adam Scott lies on the same aggregate score as McIlroy, three under, and therefore retains aspirations of dislodging Tiger Woods from the No1 spot in golf's world rankings. Scott could, though, still be upstaged in that quest by Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson or Henrik Stenson. That trio all sit on a five under. |