AUGUSTA, Ga. — Golf fans will be treated to a commonplace sight on Sunday — Jordan Spieth playing in one of the final groups and contending for the Masters championship.
Spieth has been able to shake off last year’s epic back-nine collapse and a stunning quadruple bogey 9 in Thursday’s first round to enter the final round at 4 under par, just two shots off the lead.
Spieth, the 2015 Masters champion and runner-up in 2014 and 2016, shot a 4-under 68 in Saturday’s third round, carding five birdies against one bogey. He has played near flawless golf since carding that quadruple on Thursday, piecing together 29 consecutive holes without a bogey between the fourth hole on Friday and the 16th hole on Saturday. After shooting 75 on Saturday, he has scored 69 and 68 to put himself in contention for a second green jacket.
“After the first round I couldn’t ask for much better than this,’’ he said.
For the third straight day, Spieth parred No. 12, the hole that cost him the tournament last year when he put two balls into the water. He also had a tap-in birdie at No. 15, where he put one in the water Thursday and three-putted for a nine.
Spieth brought up the Patriots’ win in Super Bowl LI as an example of a comeback victory. Spieth is good friends with Tom Brady, playing Augusta National with him two weeks ago.
“New experience for me, coming from behind on Sunday at the Masters, which is kind of fun to say,’’ he said. “Obviously the Super Bowl this year is a very clear example of somebody who just refused to lose and the entire team refused to lose and therefore didn’t give up, felt the momentum. And when the momentum’s on their side, they ran with it.’’
Knox’s forteAn odd number of players made this weekend’s cut (53 of 93), meaning one golfer would have to play by himself in each of the final two rounds.
That’s where Jeff Knox comes in.
Knox will never see his name on the Masters leaderboard, but he is as much a staple of the tournament as the champions’ dinner and the ceremonial tee shot. Masters rules require the lone player to play with a “marker’’ to keep the pace of the day and help put the participant into his usual rhythm, and Augusta National always chooses Knox, the club’s best player who holds the member record with a 61 he shot in 2003.
Knox made a name for himself in 2014 by shooting 70 on Saturday, beating Rory McIlroy by a shot, and then beating 1987 Masters champion Larry Mize the next day.
But he wasn’t as fortunate against Jason Day Saturday, who carded four consecutive birdies on the back nine to finish with a 3-under 69.
“He said he was nervous on the first tee and I’m like, in my head I’m like, I’m kind of nervous because I don’t want to let my marker beat me,’’ Day said. “So, it was kind of neck and neck. I bogeyed the second hole and he parred it and he was, kind of had a little 1-up lead there for a bit, so I’m glad I ended up carrying out the back side.’’
Day, ranked No. 3 in the world, almost aced the sixth hole and jumped nearly 20 spots to a tie for 27th with his 69. It was a nice turnaround from his first two rounds.
“My wife over there, she was kind of ready to slap me in the face because I was so negative with myself,’’ Day said. “She’s like, ‘You better get it out now before the kids get back.’’’
Knox will play with Ernie Els on Sunday. Els entered the day at just 3 over, but now sits in last place at plus-14 after shooting an 83.
Shaky putterPhil Mickelson began the day tied for ninth at even par, but a second straight day of shaky putting dropped him to a tie for 21st after he shot 2-over 74. Mickelson began the day with consecutive birdies, but played the final 16 holes at 4 over.
Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenVolin
