It was a compelling matchup but by day’s end on Saturday, Brooks Koepka used his power and his putting to take a two-shot lead over Jordan Spieth at the Byron Nelson.
Koepka made a great up-and-down from behind the 18th green for par then watched as Spieth missed an eight-foot par putt that padded Koepka’s lead to a pair going into the final 18. Koepka fired a 65 and posted 16-under while Spieth’s closing bogey left him at 14-under thanks to a 67.
The two will go at it again in the same group for the final 18.
Three players will start the day three shots behind Koepka: Sergio Garcia (68), Matt Kuchar (65) and Bud Cauley (68). Overnight leader Ben Crane, who played in the final group with Koepka and Spieth, fell six shots off the pace after shooting 72.
Spieth’s putter kept him close for most of the day. He had 11 one-putt greens but fought errant tee shots. He was missing both left and right and at 18, his tee shot with a driving iron sailed 35 yards off line into the right trees and that led to the bogey.
At the par four 14th Spieth made a huge save after hooking his tee shot in the water. He drained a 25-footer for bogey.
After an up-and-down front nine, Koepka played steady on the back with three birdies, no bogeys to build his lead. Afterward, he pointed toward his putter as the club that kept his round going. “I putted well today. That’s about all I can say. One of the worst ball-striking days as a professional.”
