Jordan Spieth plays his shot from the rough on the 17th hole during the third round of Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course on April 03, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

Jordan Spieth birdied five of his last seven holes to card a five-under 67 and share the 540-hole lead with England’s Matt Wallace in the Valero Texas Open.

A three-time Major champion, Spieth is bidding to win for the first time since he claimed The Open at Royal Birkdale in 2017.

He knows a win would see him heralded as a hot favourite for the Masters but he admits that a near four-year winless streak has been humbling and that nothing with be easy at TPC San Antonio today.

“Winning a PGA TOUR event is a very, very difficult thing to do and I've certainly been humbled in that process over the last few years,” said Spieth, who shares the lead on 12-under with Wallace (67), just two shots ahead of Charley Hoffman.

Scores

“First, I'm focused on this week, always have been. I haven't thought ahead whatsoever. I thought the best prep for next week is to work yourself into contention and just kind of see where all facets of the game are under pressure. Got quite a bit of that today to test out and hopefully make some improvements for tomorrow.”

The Texan (27) has seen an upturn in form over the last two months and the goal now is to convert his third 54-hole lead into a win or at least a positive feeling heading into the Masters.

“The goal this week was to get myself into contention and have a chance to win on Sunday,” said Spieth who produced a magical, 48-yard recovery with his wedge to birdie the 308-yard 17th. “Really, that's goal accomplished at this point. So the next goal is to try and get myself in position to be in control on the back nine.

“That's kind of how it is every week. But certainly, as you look forward to next week at the Masters, it's just trying to see where things are. I didn't love where things were today, how they felt. I got probably a little stacked hitting all the shots into the wind on the range. I might just go to the other end of the range tomorrow and just try and see if I can find my rhythm a little better tomorrow.”

Spieth followed his birdie at the 17th with another at the 18th, where he hit a 277-yard three-wood to the heart of the green to set up a two-putt birdie.

“Let the emotions get the best of me for a good couple minutes there on 17 and then was able to settle down and hit a great shot,” he said of his wild drive and subsequent short game magic. “So I really like the way I played 18 today. Driver, 3-wood onto that green, and to hold that green is really, really challenging. I can use those couple swings for some confidence into tomorrow.”

It was also an excellent day for Graeme McDowell, whose three-under 69 was one of just three bogey-free rounds yesterday as he moved up to tied 26th on two-under.

McDowell is ranked third for scrambling this week with 20 out of 24 but Pádraig Harrington’s short game remains short of his best.

The Dubliner shot a two-over 74 yesterday to fall back to tied 60th on two-over, scrambling for par just seven times out of 12 yesterday.

Third-Round Leaderboard

Matt Wallace — 69-68-67—204 (-12)

Jordan Spieth — 67-70-67—204 (-12)

Charley Hoffman — 75-66-65—206 (-10)

Cameron Tringale — 66-69-73—208 (-8)

Anirban Lahiri — 71-69-69—209 (-7)

Things to Know

11-time PGA TOUR winner Jordan Spieth and four-time European Tour winner Matt Wallace share the 54-hole lead at 12-under
Spieth, making his 83rd start since his win at The Open Championship in 2017, is 9-for-18 in his PGA TOUR career to date with the 54-hole lead/co-lead
Spieth holds at least a share of the 54-hole lead for the third time this season, the most of any player
Wallace holds the 54-hole lead/co-lead for the first time in his PGA TOUR career in search of his first victory on TOUR
Since 2006, Charley Hoffman leads all players at the Valero Texas Open in top-fives (4), top-10s (6), top-25s (11), cuts made (15) and score to par (-99)

Matt Wallace (T1/-12)

First career 54-hole lead/co-lead on TOUR; previous-best position: T3/2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational (finished T6)
In search of first career TOUR victory (best result to date: T3/2019 PGA Championship)
Leads the field in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (12.587 through three rounds)
Competing on a sponsor exemption (PGA TOUR member but not otherwise exempt for the Valero Texas Open); last sponsor exemption to win on TOUR: Martin Laird/2020 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
Four-time European Tour winner

Jordan Spieth (T1/-12)

Third 54-hole lead/co-lead of the season (most of any player): T4/Waste Management Phoenix Open, T3/AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, TBD/Valero Texas Open
19th career 54-hole lead/co-lead on the PGA TOUR; 9-for-18 to date converting to victory
Jordan Spieth with the 54-hole lead/co-lead on the PGA TOUR (9-for-18 to date)

Led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green in the third round (4.693)
83rd start on the PGA TOUR since his most recent win (2017 The Open Championship)
Sixth start in the event; two prior top-10 finishes (10th/2014, 2nd/2015)
Four top-10 finishes in last six starts on TOUR: T4/Waste Management Phoenix Open, T3/AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, T4/Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, T9/WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play (eliminated in Round of 16)

Additional Player Notes

Charley Hoffman (3rd/-10) played the final seven holes in 6-under (B-P-E-P-B-B-B); since 2006, Hoffman leads all players at the Valero Texas Open in: Top-fives (4), Top-10s (6), Top-25s (11); Cuts made (15); Score to par (-99)

36-hole leader Cameron Tringale (4th/-8) is making his 297th start on the PGA TOUR since the start of the 2009 season, the most of any player without a win in that span
Tom Hoge (T6/-6) made a career-high nine birdies and tied his career-long birdie streak (5; Nos. 5-9)
The winner of the tournament will be eligible for next week’s Masters Tournament; of the top five players on the leaderboard, two are in the field at the Masters (Wallace, Spieth) and three are not currently eligible (Hoffman, Tringale, Lahiri)

Bogey-free rounds

R1 (1): Kyle Stanley (71)

R2 (2): Rickie Fowler (68), Matt Wallace (68)

R3 (3): Gary Woodland (67), Abraham Ancer (69), Graeme McDowell (69)