World No.1 Jordan Spieth is delighted to be in contention to win his Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship given his putting struggles.
Spieth was one of only 13 players to complete round three at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Saturday, carding a four-under-par 68 for seven under for the tournament.
This is only three shots off the lead, which the American deems remarkable given his wayward putter. “I’m struggling with my alignment on the greens and with my wedges, so I’m just not getting those extra chances,” the Abu Dhabi debutant said. “I’m still seven under and some crazy round tomorrow has got a chance [to win] which, oddly enough, the way I’ve felt my game has been at it, if all comes together tomorrow, who knows?
“I’m very pleased with my bogey-free round.”
How much is it advantage for him to have finished his third round on Saturday, while those atop the leaderboard face an early start on Sunday to complete theirs? “You know, not much,” the 22-year-old Texan said. “It just takes hours away from sitting in the clubhouse for hours. I can at least spend more time may be going to the gym in the morning.
“I can may be do a little more than I would have been able to do if we were up before five. But all in all, as far as my play goes, I don’t think it’s going to affect things too much.”
Of the staccato nature of this year’s event due to the delays, he added: “It’s harder to get in a rhythm, especially because the wind swirls around, so it starts out in one direction and by the end of the day, goes in the other direction. That makes it a bit challenging.
“I was very keen to get the job done today and finish the third round.”
