Spieth in contention in Australia

World number one Jordan Spieth cut Matthew Jones’ lead in the Australian Open to three shots going into Sunday’s final round in Sydney.

Jones, who is a member at The Australian Golf Club, had a 36-hole total of 7-under 135 on a course that was playing easier after Thursday’s brutal wind and heat when only 18 players broke par.

He made his Major Championship debut in the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst.

The field’s main Australian draw, Adam Scott, looks to be out of contention after a miserable day on the greens saw him card two over, leaving the 2009 champion nine shots off the pace. On the closing half, the Sutherland shire product birdied the par-5 14th, before bagging birdies on the par-4 17th and par-5 closing hole. “There were a couple of bad swings and a couple of bad decisions”, said Spieth, referring to his slow start where he bogeyed three of his first four holes.

After a horror start in which he dropped three shots in the first four holes, Spieth blitzed his last 10 holes in seven under par to fire a day’s-best 67 to move to seven under for the championship.

Former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy coped better with the shifting wind and sweltering heat than most of the more feted golfers, recording a 68 for a share of third with Taiwanese amateur Yu Chun-An and compatriot Todd Sinnott.

The American surged to seven-under, three stroked behind the leader on 10-under, but two strokes clear of Rhein Gibson (68) in outright third. He held the top ranking for 11 weeks until August of a year ago, and entered the Australian Open this week ranked No. 12.

“I’m just happy to be in the final group and leading the tournament with a chance to win”.

Scott, playing for the sixth time in eight weeks, was right on the cutline when he finished his round just before midday Friday, but higher afternoon scores would likely see the number go a few strokes higher.

Scott ended a birdie drought not with his troublesome putter but by chipping in from just off the green on the third hole.

No one need remind him of his urge to win a second Australian Open, six years after his first.

“Even if I up-and-down it for a par, starting tomorrow one over, unless they come way, way back I’m pretty much done so, like I said, it’s a good shot, maybe a little lucky but took advantage of it”.