It took a couple of days but Jordan Spieth became Jordan Spieth once again on moving day at the HSBC Champions.
Yes, Kevin Kisner retained the lead with a not-so-spectacular round of 70 that put him 16-under par but now he’s got some accomplished players, Spieth being the best, ready to chase him on Sunday’s final round at the Sheshan International Golf Club.
Spieth became the birdie machine that dominated the tour last season. He put up nine of them on his way to a 63 that got him to 13-under par and only three behind Kisner. Spieth started the day 10 back.
Even closer to the leader are Dustin Johnson and China’s Haotong Li, the 20-year-old from Hunan. DJ shot 65 while Li’s 66 may have put him into the final pairing with Kisner on Sunday depending on what happens to Russell Knox. Li will have the eyes of an entire nation on him as he attempts to make history by winning this event. Both he and Johnson are a single shot back at 15-under.
So Kisner has a lot to think about as he attempts to win his first PGA Tour event and this is a big one.
“There’s so many guys within a couple shots of the lead, it’s going to be a dogfight tomorrow no matter what,” said Kisner, who finished second three times last season, each time he was in a playoff.
But he has a solid plan of attack: “Just keep making birdies,” Kisner said.
His only problem is that those behind him will have the same plan and they have proven they can do exactly that when it counts most.
There’s also a chance that Knox can end up in a tie for the lead. One player did not finish his round and that was Knox, he chose not to finish in the dark and if he can birdie the 18th, he’ll tie Kisner at the top and put himself in the final group.
Spieth has company at 13-under — Patrick Reed (68) and Ross Fisher (65) are there with him.
First round leader Branden Grace, Scott Hend and Thorbjorn Olesen will start Sunday four off the lead at 12-under.
