Jordan Spieth takes one-shot lead into final round of Masters

Jordan Spieth is 18 holes away from making history.

In his quest to become just the fourth player in 80 years of the Masters Tournament to successfully defend his title, the 22-year-old Texan leads the field by only a shot after the third round.

After opening with rounds of 66-74, Spieth shot 1-over for a 213 total. He leads first-time Masters participant Smylie Kaufman, the only player to shoot in the 60s in the third round (69), by one shot.

Bernhard Langer, the 58-year-old two-time Master champion, turned back the clock with 70 and is tied with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama for third place, two shots behind Spieth.

World No. 1 Jason Day, playing with Langer, shot 71 and is tied with Dustin Johnson (72) and Danny Willett (72) for fifth at 216. Lee Westwood (71), Brandt Snedeker (74) and Soren Kjeldsen (74) are tied for eighth, four shots off the lead.

Bidding to join Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Tiger Woods (2001-02) as the only players to win green jackets in consecutive years, Spieth reached the green in two at No. 2 and made birdie to move to 5-under and extend his lead to two over playing partner Rory McIlroy.

Spieth missed the greens at Nos. 3, 4 and 6 but still saved par. He drove into the trees at No. 7 and saved bogey with a seven-foot putt.

Spieth missed the green at No. 11 and made double bogey to briefly fall to 3-under. He got a shot back when he rolled in a 17-foot birdie putt at No. 12. He added birdies at Nos. 14 and 15 to get to 6-under until missing the fairway at No. 17 and carding a bogey. He then double-bogeyed No. 18 to finish at 3-under.

In the windy conditions, six players posted rounds of 80 or worse, including Kevin Na at 85.