Jordan Spieth putted superbly on Pebble Beach's bumpy, rain-softened greens to surge six strokes clear after the third round of the weather-hit AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Saturday. Joint leader when the fog-delayed second round was completed earlier in the day, the world No. 6 fired a sparkling seven-under-par 65 on the picturesque Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of three venues being used for this week's event. Spieth, eyeing his ninth PGA Tour victory, needed no more than one putt on 13 of his 18 holes as he posted a 17-under total of 198 to tighten his grip on the tournament. Brandt Snedeker, a two-time former champion at Pebble Beach who is also considered one of the best putters in the game, carded a 67 on the same layout to finish the day alone in second at 11-under. Spieth has been frustrated by his putting in recent weeks but found his touch on Saturday. He finished third at the Sony Open in Hawaii and tied for ninth at the Phoenix Open in his previous two starts on the PGA Tour. Long-hitting Dustin Johnson, who was grouped with Spieth for the first three rounds, returned a 66 to share third at 10-under with Kelly Kraft (66). Australian world No. 1 Jason Day had been tied for the lead at the tournament's halfway point with Spieth and Derek Fathauer but dropped five shots in his first six holes at Pebble Beach on the way to a 73 to end the round at seven-under. Fred Couples a stroke back Fred Couples birdied the final two holes Saturday to pull within a stroke of the leaders in the PGA Champions Tour's Allianz Championship. The 57-year-old Couples shot a 7-under 65 to reach 11-under 133 on The Old Course at Broken Sound. Doug Garwood, Joe Durant, Scott McCarron and first-round leader Olin Browne shared the top spot, all birdieing the par-5 18th. Garwood shot 64, Durant 65, McCarron 66, and Browne 69. Tom Pernice Jr. had a 64 to match Couples at 11 under. Couples is playing in Florida for the first time since the 2006 Honda Classic. McCarron won twice last year on the 50-and-over tour. Bernhard Langer was tied for 54th after his second straight 71. Defending champion Esteban Toledo was 8-under after a 67. Winning Ryder Cup captains Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul McGinley are making their senior debuts. Olazabal was tied for 23rd at 6 under after a 67, and McGinley was tied for 44th at 3 under after a 73. John Daly eagled the 18th in a 75 that left him tied for 69th at 2 over. — Agencies
