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Spieth extends Augusta lead
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Spieth extends Augusta lead

Jordan Spieth remained in pole position to successfully defend his Masters Tournament title as he extended his lead to three shots during the final round at Augusta National.

Jordan Spieth

The American was looking to become just the fourth person to win a Green Jacket in consecutive years, one short of 50 years to the day since Jack Nicklaus did it for the first time in 1966.

He entered the day with a one-shot advantage over Smylie Kaufman, but a birdie on the second got him to four under after four holes, with Kaufman dropping a shot in his first four.

Søren Kjeldsen and Danny Willett were alongside Kaufman at one under and leading the European Tour charge.

Kjledsen made a par-par start but when he drained a 30-footer on the third, the Dane - playing his first Masters since 2010 - was into a six-man tie for third at level par and three off the lead.

Spieth kept hold of that outright lead with a par on the first but Kaufman had the chance to join him after putting his approach to four feet, although he could not make the putt.

Kjeldsen had got the putter going and he rolled in from 34 feet to get to one under on the fifth, but that did not close the gap as both Kaufman and Spieth birdied the second with one and two putts respectively.

Willett then joined the group at one under after putting his approach on the par three sixth to 11 feet.

Kaufman made a first bogey of the day after leaving a chip short on the third to extend the lead to two shots, and it was up to three as he went back-to-back on the fourth, with Spieth making a clutch putt to save par.

Hideki Matsuyama was at level par, a shot clear of Lee Westwood, World Number One Jason Day and Dustin Johnson.

There was also drama on the 16th as Shane Lowry made the first hole-in-one of the week with an eight iron from 180 yards, and moments later American Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love repeated the trick.

Earlier in the day, Amateur Championship winner Romain Langasque equalled the back nine record for an amateur, coming back in 31 to sign for a 68 and finish the week ten over.

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