Spieth Feeling Comfortable Playing With Lead at Majors

Jordan Spieth stood dead center in the middle of Royal Birkdale's 18th fairway Saturday afternoon, some 40 yards ahead of Matt Kuchar. Spieth watched his playing partner take aim at the flagstick and nearly hole his approach for eagle. He then hit his own shot, one he figured was destined for the bunker but instead hung on the right edge of the green.

As they walked together down the fairway, serenaded by shouts of their names and raucous applause, Kuchar turned to Spieth and said, "This is pretty cool."

They soaked it in, two competitors, yes, but two buddies enjoying their roles in the scene.

Until Spieth stole that scene for himself.

Leading by 2, from 20 feet above the hole, Spieth rolled in his birdie attempt. Kuchar missed his from just a few feet away. Instead of a potential 1-shot lead entering Sunday's final round of The Open, Spieth had solidified a 3-stroke advantage.

Photos From the The Open Championship

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  Team Spieth poses after Jordan's win at The Open

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  Jordan and caddie Michael Greller smile as they pose for a picture holding up the trophy

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  Jordan takes a photo with his friends and family at the airport after The Open

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  Jordan smiles as he takes a picture with sister Ellie and brother Steven following his win at The Open

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  Chris and Shawn Speith pose for a photo with The Open trophy following Jordan's win

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  Jordan and his girlfriend, Annie, pose with his trophy after his win at The Open

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  Jordan poses with his younger sister Ellie, as she holds his winning trophy

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  Jordan, winner of the 146th Open Championship, poses with the Claret Jug

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  Jordan in front of the clubhouse at Royal Birkdale

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  Jordan poses with members of Team Spieth (left to right, co-manager Jordan Lewites, Michael Greller, Jordan, coach Cam McCormick and agent Jay Danzi)

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  Jordan holds the Claret Jug alongside Matt Kuchar just off the 18th green

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  Jordan celebrates as he walks the Claret Jug around the 18th green

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  Jordan looks back at the hole after sinking his 48-foot eagle putt on No. 15

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  After the bogey on No. 13, Jordan celebrates his birdie response on No. 14

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  Forced to take an unplayable lie, Jordan hits his recovery shot from behind the equipment trailers near the practice range

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  An errant tee shot left Jordan's drive sitting in an unplayable position on a large dune off the right of the 13th fairway

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  A clutch chip off the green led to a par save on No. 11

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  Jordan acknowledges the crowd on the sixth green

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  Jordan and Michael line up a putt on No. 4

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  After a round of 65 on Saturday, Jordan heads into the final round with a 3-shot lead. As ESPN's Jason Sobel notes, it's a role that he's comfortable playing

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  Jordan reacts to his 20-foot birdie putt on No. 18

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  Jordan lines up his birdie putt on the final hole with Matt Kuchar, his round 3 playing partner, looking on

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  A fairaway shot on No. 16

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  A birdie putt on No. 13

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  Jordan's tee shot on the par-4 No. 11

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  Jordan and caddie Michael Greller fist-bump after wrapping up round two on the 18th green

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  Jordan shields himself from the rainy weather at the 8th hole during the second round

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  Jordan hits his second shot on the 6th hole during round two of the Open Championship

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  Jordan shakes hands with Henrik Stenson of Sweden on the 18th green during the first round

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  Jordan acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green

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  Jordan hits a bunker shot on the 15th hole during the first round

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  Jordan lines up his putt on the 5th hole during the first round of the 2017 Open Championship

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  Jordan watches on as his caddie, Micheal Greller, chips during a practice round

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  Jordan smiles as he gives a 'thumbs up' during a practice round

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  Jordan meets with some young fans to sign autographs during a practice round

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  Phil Mickelson and Jordan share some laughs as they chat during a practice round ahead of the 2017 Open Chmapionship

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  Jordan meets with the press during a practice round ahead of the 2017 Open Championship

It was exactly the kind of momentum shift that wins major championships.

"I thought, 'This is where I normally capitalize and I kind of make a scrappy birdie,' " Spieth later explained. "It was a good feeling."

It's a feeling to which he has become quite accustomed.

Spieth has led a tournament after each of the past seven rounds he has played. He has converted two of his previous four 54-hole leads at majors. He has never failed to convert a multiple-shot lead going into the final round of a major. And here's the kicker: He has led after 14 major championship rounds since the beginning of 2013.

No other player has done that more than half as much during this span, which leads to a few irrefutable facts. Spieth is really good at getting into the lead, he's really good at holding the lead, and he's really good at converting the lead into victory.

"It's a different feeling and one that's harder to sleep with than the other way around, because you feel like you've got to almost change the way you do things," he said. "You control your own destiny, and sometimes that can be a big thing on your mind, versus I need help and I'll just go out there and try to play well."