AUGUSTA: Jordan Spieth seized control of the Masters with a performance not seen since another 21-year-old, Tiger Woods, first blazed his way around Augusta National.

The biggest names in golf put major pressure him but the young American refused to crack, carding a two-under 70 on Saturday to take a four-shot lead into the final round.

Masters champions Woods and Phil Mickelson and world number one Rory McIlroy all took turns trying to rattle the Texan, but Spieth held steady on a sweaty Georgia afternoon, setting a Masters record 54-hole total of 16-under 200 to better the previous mark of 201 shared by Woods and Raymond Floyd.

Spieth had already felt the heat from the likes of McIlroy and Woods even before he teed off.

Then Mickelson entered the fray with a triple-birdie blast early on that hauled the three-time former winner into firm contention.

Finally, England’s Justin Rose came at him late in the day.

But they all needed Spieth to falter and he gave few signs of doing that before coughing up a double-bogey at the 17th.

By the end of the day, Spieth, with a two-under par 70, was four ahead of Rose, who had birdies at 16 and 18 for a 67.

Mickelson, who also had a 67, was alone in third on 205 with fellow American Charley Hoffman a further stroke back after a 71.

Woods and McIlroy were on 210 after shooting 68s, 10 shots off the lead along with Dustin Johnson (73), Kevin Streelman (70) and Kevin Na (70).

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2015

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