Jordan Spieth holes out for eagle from 181 yards at Australian Open

Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott went in opposite directions at the Australian Open on Friday, while Matt Jones used home-course advantage to shoot a 3-under 68 and take a three-stroke lead.

Overnight leader Jones watched Spieth’s eagle shot from the 16th tee and responded by birdying his final two holes to card a three-under-par 68, moving to 10-under for the tournament and finishing three strokes clear of his American rival.

Both Jones and Spieth staged remarkable finishes to their third rounds, Spieth recovering from what was at one stage an eight shot deficit early in his round after dropping three shots in his first four holes to eventually close within just one when he walked from the 18th green.

Spieth acknowledged as much but said ominously that he was peaking for the final round and would draw confidence from his course-record 63 he shot a year ago to run away with the Stonehaven Cup.

The highlight was his eagle two at the par-four 17th where his 180-yard 8-iron shot bounced twice on the putting surface before rolling into the hole.

The Masters and U.S. Open champion regrouped after the turn, producing a bogey-free back nine to be 7-under through 54 holes heading into Sunday’s final round. “The cross winds again made it a guessing game out there today leaving a 50-50 shot and we got less than 50 percent of them right” said Spieth.

Defending champion Spieth told the tournament website: “I feel like I’ve still got the best golf yet, to be played”.

Spieth looked down and out after three bogeys in his first four holes of the third round, but clawed his way back with birdies at the fifth, six and ninth holes — dampened by a bogey at the eighth. “I’ve played a very heavy back end of the year”, he said.

“But you’ve still got to get it in the hole”, he said. “Of course we play golf for a living and to have the chance to win is what you want, and to go up against the number 1 in the world is better still”.

“So I am going to give it everything I can as I would love to have my name on that trophy alongside the likes of (Jack) Nicklaus, Norman and it would be wonderful”.

“I’d love nothing more than that”, continued the 35-year-old. It makes a huge difference.

Overnight leader Jones, from Australia, carded a second successive 68 to move to 10 under overall.