Like he needs it, world No.1 Jordan Spieth admits he enjoyed a touch of luck in setting the Australian Open alight and storming into contention for back-to-back titles.
Spieth flushed an eight iron into the cup for an eagle two on the penultimate hole of his four-under-par 67, the low round of the day, to secure a place in Sunday's final group with fellow US PGA Tour star Matt Jones.
"If that lands three foot further, it takes a hope and there's a good chance it's off the back of the green," Spieth said.
Instead he rode his luck to birdie the 18th and draw to within three shots of Jones, who the American nominated pre-tournament as one of the biggest threats to his title defence.
While confident he can overcome the three-stroke deficit, Spieth knows he is in for a battle to retain the trophy.
"Matt Jones has played the best golf for three rounds. He's played better golf than I have and I have to somehow not only play better golf but play better golf by multiple shots in order to win the tournament tomorrow," he said.
"No matter where you're ranked in the world, he's played this golf course better than I have up until now and I've got to somehow overcome that."
After slipping back to even par following a diabolical start to his third round, Spieth admitted he was delighted to drag himself into Sunday's last pairing.
But, unlike Jones, who said he would only focus on his own game, Spieth conceded there'd be a match-play feel to the final round with the leader five clear of his next challenger Rhein Gibson.
"But I've now seen with enough competitive Sundays that so much happens in 18 holes, so many scores flip and flop," Spieth said.
"If he gets off to a hot start and I don't, it doesn't mean it's over.
"I was able to turn today's round around. We're capable of going on some pretty cool runs just as he is.
"But that's going to be something that's going to be a challenge for me, is playing the golf course and playing my own game instead of looking at what he's doing and what he's at."
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