2021 Texas Open leaderboard: Is Jordan Spieth on the brink of a breakthrough win?

Jordan Spieth, starting in early February, was tied for the lead after three rounds at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, led by two shots entering the final round at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and was two back of the lead after 54 holes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the start of March. At this week’s Valero Texas Open, he’s tied for the lead after the third round. Knock. Knock. Knock. And now knock again. Will this be the week that Spieth finally breaks through and wins for the first time since 2017? Here are three things you need to know after Saturday’s play at TPC San Antonio. 

Jordan Spieth is tied for the lead 

Complete leaderboard here.

Spieth played his final 10 holes as well as he’s played over his two-month stretch. 

He birdied the par-4 9th on an 11-foot putt, the par-4 12th on a 5-footer, the par-5 14th on a 3-footer and the par-4 15th on an 8-footer. On the par-4 17th, he hit a miraculous flop shot from right of the green for another birdie, and on the par-5 18th, he was home in two for a final birdie, a five-under 67 and a share of a two-shot lead with Matt Wallace. 

“It’s about going out tomorrow and hoping that me and Wally can make a lot of birdies and come down the stretch on the last few holes and see what happens,” Spieth said. “Yeah, I feel good. It’s going to be fun, just try and have fun.”

Wallace also shot 67, after birdies on 1, 2, 12, 15, 17 and 18. 

“Thinking of the good and that was good today,” Wallace said. “Started off lovely, that settles you down. I felt nervous, but that’s a good thing because we haven’t been in that situation for a while, you know, with fans and being in Jordan’s home state. I definitely was probably third on the list of people rooting for out of the group. Hopefully I won over some fans there today. I’m very happy with today’s work.”

Charley Hoffman is two shots back 

Two shots back of Spieth and Wallace is Charley Hoffman, who played his final seven holes at six under on his way to a seven-under 65, the day’s low round. 

“I was one under through nine, just sort of cruising,” Hoffman said. “Then I was able to make a birdie on 12 and then hit a good shot on 14 in there, made eagle. Then I was able to make a few putts coming down the stretch on those last three. Obviously seven under on this golf course at any time under any conditions is a great round of golf.”

Cameron Tringale is four back of the lead, and Anirban Lahiri is five behind. 

Rickie Fowler shoots three under

Among other players, Corey Conners, the defending champion, shot a four-under 67 and is eight shots behind the leaders, and Rickie Fowler shot a three-under 69 and is nine back.