JORDAN SPIETH laughed off his “very British” haircut after trimming his Open rivals down to size at Carnoustie.
The defending champion has every chance of reclaiming the Claret Jug he reluctantly handed back on Monday after a brilliant six-under 65 on moving day.
DAY THREE LEADERBOARD
T1. Spieth -9
T1. Kisner -9
T1. Schauffele -9
4. Chappell -7
5. F.Molinari -6
T6. Woods -5
T6. Simpson -5
T6. Noren -5
T6. Kuchar -5
T6. McIlroy -5
T6. Fleetwood -5
T6. Z.Johnson -5
But the 24-year-old multi-millionaire was left scratching his head earlier in the day after a dodgy barnet trim.
Spieth, who won last year’s Open at Birkdale in addition to the 2015 Masters and US Open, wandered into sleepy Carnoustie for a haircut.
And it’s likely he might not be going back again after the barber hacked away a bit too much for his liking.
Spieth said: “I don’t even know where I want. I don’t think [he recognised me]. He didn’t really say much.
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“He went a little high and tight. It was intended to be what I normally get, and instead he went a little shorter.
“Very British haircut. A little shaved on the sides, a little longer on top. It is what it is. Summertime, it works out.”
Spieth is sharing a house with Kevin Kisner who, along with fellow American Xander Schauffele, make up the rest of the leaders on nine under.
It is a tight leaderboard but Spieth reckons that will make him sleep easier than last year, when he held a three-shot lead going into the final round.
He said: “The fact that I won last year, I think helps sleep a little bit.
“I don’t find any expectations right now. You know, I’m not sure, though, obviously. This is right after the round, but I feel pretty calm because of the progress made in the game.
“If I felt like I got away with a lot of stuff and I really wasn’t progressing and just made a lot of putts, then I’d probably feel more tension.
“But I like where the striking’s at. It can improve a little bit, but all aspects of the game got better today.”
Tiger Woods – who set Twitter alight as he briefly held a share of the lead – heads a group on five under that also includes Rory McIlroy, one shot behind fifth-placed Francesco Molinari and two adrift of fourth-placed Kevin Kisner.