Spieth Still Near Top Of Open Leaderboard, Niebrugge Tied For Seventh

Jordan Spieth's Grand Slam dream is still alive. Spieth saw to that Sunday at the Old Course, where his 6-under-par 66 in the third round put him near the top of the leaderboard at The Open.

The 21-year-old Spieth is at 11-under overall and will enter Monday's final round trailing amateur Paul Dunne, Jason Day and 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen by a stroke.

"At this point it's free rolling," Spieth said. "I'm going to play to win -- I'm not playing for a place. I don't want to place third tomorrow. I want to win.

"I'm going to play my game, obviously with patience, to stay in the mix if it's not all there in the beginning. And if it is, I'm going to continue to play that way to try and get out in front. Just trying to give myself as many chances as I can."

Spieth, who won the Masters and U.S. Open, is in the best position since Jack Nicklaus in 1972 to win the third leg of the Grand Slam. Nicklaus was 6 strokes behind Lee Trevino entering the final round and ultimately finished a shot back in The Open that year.

Prior to that, Arnold Palmer trailed by four entering the final round at St. Andrews in 1960, only to finish a stroke behind Kel Nagle. In 2002, Tiger Woods won the first two majors, but a third-round 81 dropped him 11 strokes back going into the final round.

Ben Hogan is the only player to win the Masters, U.S. Open and The Open in the same year. He accomplished the feat in 1953, the only time he played The Open.

Jordan Niebrugge, who has grandparents who live in Teutopolis, shot a five-under-67 to move to -9 and into a tie for seventh place going into the fourth round of play.

Niebrugge is a Wisconsin resident. His parents Rod and Judy (Helmink) Niebrugge grew up in Teutopolis and graduated from Teutopolis High School. The 21-year-old,6-foot-4 golfer will begin his senior year at Oklahoma State University.

So far he's shot 67-73-67 for a 207 total. There are three leaders tied with a 204 at No. 1.