Spieth, Scott trail Tighe at Australian Open

Defending champion Spieth holed out with his shot from the fairway on the par-Four 17th for an eagle, then had a tap-in birdie on 18 for a 67.

Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts had the best round of the day with a 66 for a share of third with Spieth, former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy (71), overnight leader Lincoln Tighe (73) and another local in Aron Price (68).

Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke is nine shots off the pace after carding a 70, with England’s Lee Westwood five further back following a four-over-par round, but it appears set to be a two-man fight for the title.

Jones briefly extended his lead to four strokes with a birdie on the second before dropping a shot at the par-4 third.

While the day ended well for Spieth, he first endured a rollercoaster front nine that included four bogeys – three of them in the first four holes – and three birdies. “I’ll be thinking about that if I have a chance coming down the stretch on Sunday”.

The victor of at least one tournament every year since 2001, Scott said he failed to take advantage of better scoring conditions and softer greens on the course.

Jones is three shots clear on -10, but the man chasing him is Word Number 1, Jordan Spieth, on -7.

He got the momentum going again by picking up two more shots at the 12th and 14th but said that saves for par at the 15th and 16th had been just as important in setting up his brilliant finish.

Senior, 56, who rolled back the years to win the Australian Masters last week, said: “It was a awful round”.

Jones putted in off the green at the 17th hole for a birdie and also birdied the last hole in a second straight score of 68.

Jones’ strong finish when under siege from Spieth has given him a three shot cushion over the American, the pair to a large extent separating themselves from the field although Jones refuses to concede it is a match play situation tomorrow. If I go out tomorrow and shoot two or three under I am going to be very tough to beat so it is in my hands.

“Not really, I could have given him one though… getting wet on the 14th”, he said, referring to his club selection on the hole, obviously suggested by Williams.

‘When I finished my round I thought I’d be tied or one back, it looks now like it’s two or three shots.