Spieth in 2-par gap versus frontrunner at 3rd round of PGA Championship

Spieth in 2-par gap versus frontrunner at 3rd round of PGA Championship. August. 17, 2015 07:12. kjs0123@donga.com.

Jordan Spieth of the U.S., who is seeking his third major title of this season, took an instant leap forward to threaten the top contender despite his slow start. In the third round of the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits Course (par 72) in Kohler, Wisconsin in the U.S. on Monday, Spieth garnered seven birdies without committing a bogey to post an interim total of 13-under 203, and was tracing the top contender, Jason Day of Australia, by a gap of two pars.

If Spieth, the winner of this year’s Masters and the U.S. Open, acquires the title, he will come to achieve the "American Grand Slam" by sweeping the three events held in the U.S. of the four major tournaments. The only players who have collected all three major trophies in a single year were Ben Hogan of the U.S. (1953), and Tiger Woods of the U.S. (2000) in the history of golf. Spieth has now an opportunity to join the ranks of those golf legends.

If Spieth wins the title and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland ranks below second, the former could rise to the top place in the world as well.

Day, who started showdown with Spieth in the champions’ group on Sunday morning, has only made top 10 at nine major events, but has never won a major title. McIlroy, who successfully performed amazing 19.5-meter eagle putting at Hole 5 (par 5) on the day, tied for 17th (6-under 210) overall, a gap of nine pars versus the top contender. Yang Yong-eun (43) of Korea, and Danny Lee of New Zealand (25) tied for 44th (2-under 214).