By Andrew Both
IRVING, Texas (Reuters) - Dallas amateur Jordan Spieth gave local fans plenty to cheer about after the 16-year-old jumped into a tie for seventh after the third round of the Byron Nelson Championship Saturday.
Spieth got off to the best possible start with a spectacular birdie at the first hole and finished with a three-under-par 67 in breezy conditions at the Four Seasons TPC.
"I thought it would be extremely important to get the crowd into it early," said Spieth, who was stunned by the crowd reaction after he holed out a 25-foot bunker shot at the first.
"I've never heard anything like it. I tried to feed off that for the rest of the day.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I'm enjoying it right now, but I realize that this isn't normal for me. It's a good variation but I'll enjoy getting back to just being normal kid."
Spieth, who will go into the final round six strokes behind leader Jason Day of Australia, said he would not adopt a more conservative approach Sunday.
"I think I can make a run," he said. "I know the pins tomorrow are going to be the toughest I've ever experienced in my life, but if I'm confident, I'm going to start firing because I've got nothing to lose."
(Editing Peter Rutherford)
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