Inspired Jordan Spieth roars to head of Open betting

Tiger Woods served up a vintage display in round three of the Open Championship at Carnoustie, the former world number one carding a five-under-par 66 to move into contention, before his compatriot Jordan Spieth made an even greater impression later in the day.

Spieth, 25-1 on tournament-eve, will start Sunday as favourite, seeking to become the first back-to-back Open champion since Padraig Harrington (2007 and 2008). The Texan carded a third-round 65 to go nine under par for 54 holes.

Spieth drove the green at the first and holed his eagle putt, then four birdies followed for the three-time Major champion, and he starts the final day as 21-10 market leader. He arrived in Scotland in miserable form but has been inspired in his defence of the Claret Jug.

Woods was a general 50-1 chance for Open glory at the start of the day, and trading at 70 on Betfair, but he charged through the field with six birdies and was no bigger than 14-1 as he walked to the clubhouse. He goes into Sunday a stand-out 18-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power.

Woods kickstarted his round by making a birdie at the fourth hole for the third consecutive day, then a two-putt birdie at the par-five sixth moved the American superstar further up the leaderboard.

A long birdie putt followed at the ninth hole and suddenly Tiger was oozing confidence, wielding driver off the next two tees, making a tap-in birdie at the tenth hole, then almost reaching the green with his drive at the 11th.

When Woods found the green in two shots at the par-five 14th and gave himself a legitimate eagle opportunity, his supporters were going wild on the Scottish links, but a two-putt birdie meant a peak of six under par.

At the point, he shared the lead, but a disappointing finish meant he will need similar fireworks in the final round if he is to have hopes of regaining the Claret Jug and claiming a fourth Open title. His tee-shot at the par-three 16th rolled on and off the green, resulting in a three-putt bogey, and two pars followed, meaning Woods ended up five under par for the tournament.

Xander Schauffele birdied the 18th hole to match the score of Spieth, the Tour Championship winner continuing to impress in Major competition, while Kevin Kisner is also at nine under par, making it a three-way tie at the top.

Rory McIlroy bogeyed the 18th to finish tied with Woods at five under, while Tommy Fleetwood is on the same score, recovering well from a double-bogey at the 12th hole.

Justin Rose, who made the cut by only a shot thanks to a birdie at the 18th hole in round two, made the early Saturday running, closing with two magnificent birdies to card a flawless 64 and finish four under par.

Two other fancied runners endured far less satisfying rounds. Brooks Koepka, who successfully defended his US Open title a month ago, slumped to a four-over-par 75 to end his Jug challenge, while Rickie Fowler carded a triple-bogey eight at the sixth hole to severely dent his hopes of a Major breakthrough.

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