Spieth leads top-ranked Johnson by three shots

British Open champion Jordan Spieth turned up the heat on the back nine again on Saturday to seize a three-stroke lead over world number one Dustin Johnson at the Northern Trust.Spieth fired four of his eight birdies coming in — including three in a row from the 14th through 16th — to card a six-under 64 for a 12-under par total of 198.His lead would have been a stroke greater but for Johnson’s birdie on the 18th, where he stuck his second shot four feet from the pin to cap a 67 for 201. England’s Paul Casey (66), Spain’s Jon Rahm (67) and Americans Patrick Reed (66) and Matt Kuchar (68) were a further two strokes back.Spieth’s six-under round matched the low round of the tournament at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, New York.“I didn’t drive the ball quite as well as I did the first two days, and I’m going to need to tomorrow to make it a little easier on myself,” the 24-year-old Texan said.“I got away with missing some fairways on that front nine with some nice putts.” But even with Johnson chasing him, Spieth is in a commanding position. He has never lost on the PGA Tour when leading by two or more strokes going into the final round.“It’s easier to win from that position,” Spieth said, although he noted that it wasn’t always smooth sailing.Spieth took a three-stroke lead into the final round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale this year and saw it evaporate before he turned things around for the win.“Anything can happen on Sunday,” he said. Johnson was confident of the same thing.“I’m just hitting it really well,” Johnson said. “I feel like I can control my distance very good. I’m getting a lot of really good looks at birdie... I just need to keep doing what I’m doing.”The tournament is the first of four events in the US PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs. The series ends with the Tour Championship, where a $10mn bonus is on offer to the series points winner.Larsen, Martin tiedNicole Broch Larsen of Denmark and Mo Martin of the United States are tied for the lead after three rounds of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in Ottawa, Ontario, but much of the attention in Saturday’s round focused on Canadian Brooke Henderson, who played herself into contention with a course-record 63. Larsen fired a 5-under-par 66 on Saturday, and Martin carded a 4-under 67, and they are both at 10-under 203 after three rounds, giving them a one-shot lead over In Gee Chun of South Korea, who shot a 1-under 70. Two shots off the lead are Mirim Lee of South Korea, who had a 5-under 66, and Cristie Kerr, who shot a 5-under 68 Saturday.However, lurking among six players tied at 7-under is Henderson, who moved up from a tie for 59th after Friday’s round with her 8-under-par round.For the 19-year-old Henderson, who had eight birdies and no bogeys, it was truly moving day.“I moved,” she said.Henderson is a member at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club, site of this week’s tournament, but she said she does not keep score when she plays the course, so she does not know whether Saturday’s round was her best on the course.The 63 tied her lowest-ever score on the LPGA Tour.“It was just like the perfect day,” said Henderson. “I hit the ball extremely well. Mentally I was right on. I felt in the zone, as a lot of athletes call it. I felt like I was in the best place of mind for me to play my best. That’s always a great feeling. Shots I was hitting them close and making putts and making a lot of birdies. I guess, eight birdies today. On 18 holes of golf, that’s pretty good.”