Kevin Kisner hits out at Jordan Spieth after missing short putt at The Sentry
Sentry R3: Jordan Spieth criticised by Kevin Kisner but remains in hunt for second title at Kapalua.
Kevin Kisner did not hold back in his NBC broadcasting debut on Saturday night after he hit out at Jordan Spieth when missing a short birdie putt on the 15th in the third round of The Sentry.
Four-time PGA Tour champion Kisner hit out at Spieth for taking too long over short putts.
Kisner believes Spieth is much better suited to holing 25-footers than three-footers simply because he does not take as long over them.
As we join the video clip below, Kisner watches Spieth take his time over a short birdie putt on the par-5 15th.
Kevin Kisner hits out at Jordan Spieth over length of time taken on short putts
"If I was going to help him I would tell him to speed it up a little bit on these and just knock it in... he knows how to make these," said Kisner, just before Spieth looked at the hole and then pulled the trigger.
Spieth then proceeded to miss the putt as the ball lipped out on the right side.
On-course analyst and former PGA Tour player Smylie Kaufman then said: "You called it, Kiz."
Spieth then tapped in for par and then complained about how he missed the putt citing both the wind and the grain.
As Spieth muttered to himself, Kisner said: "It's three feet Jordan, just knock it in bud."
WATCH KISNER'S REACTION HERE
“It’s 3 feet Jordan, just knock it in bud.”—Kevin Kisner.
Finally somebody just said it pic.twitter.com/fvPJZMw8g9— Christopher Powers (@CPowers14) January 6, 2024
Despite Spieth's struggles on the 15th, he still went on to card a flawless round of 6-under 67 to keep his hopes alive of a second victory in this event, which was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions when he won it back in 2016.
The three-time major champion finds himself at 19-under par and just two strokes off the 54-hole pace set by Chris Kirk (66).
Spieth is looking to win the 14th PGA Tour title of his career and his first since the 2022 RBC Heritage.
Akshay Bhatia is one stroke behind Kirk on 20-under par following a round of 66.
Xander Schauffele, who left adidas Golf to join Descente earlier this week, vaulted up to 19-under par thanks to a superb 8-under 65.
South Korea's Ben An is also on 19-under par after going round in 68.
A host of star names are tucked in a further shot behind including Jason Day, who has raised plenty of eyebrows with his choice of new Malbon apparel this week. Day posted a 67 to move up to 18-under par alongside Sahith Theegala (68) and Harris English, who fired a stunning round of 9-under 64. English was 6-under par on the final five holes, highlighted by an eagle-three at the 18th. World No.1 Scottie Scheffler held the 36-hole lead on 16-under par but he could only card a 71 to also move to 18-under par. Scheffler found the green in two shots on the par-5 18th but he three-putted from 35 feet for par to just about sum up his day.
Viktor Hovland (72) had a two-hole stretch to forget on the back nine as he bogeyed the 13th and tripled the 14th after sending a greenside bunker shot OB to fall out of contention on 15-under par.
Happens to the best of us pic.twitter.com/67Ee2qpshu
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 6, 2024
The Sentry - Third Round Leaderboard
-21 C Kirk (US)
-20 A Bhatia (US)
-19 X Schauffele, J Spieth (US), B An (Kor)
-18 J Day (Aus), S Theegala, H English, S Scheffler (US)
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