The Open Championship is all tied up as the final pairing of Matt Kuchar and Jordan Spieth head to the back nine at Royal Birkdale. After making just four bogeys in the first three rounds, Spieth has given four back on the front nine alone on Sunday. The last bogey in this shaky stretch came at the ninth hole, where Spieth stood over a little bunny putt just a tad too long and then lipped it out.

It was a stunning miss, and emblematic of the entire front nine for Spieth. It just seemed like he was constantly holding on for dear life, whether it was off the tee or on the green. Kuchar has applied pressure in spots, including with a dart into the second green that closed the gap from three shots to one in two holes. But this has largely been about Spieth coming back to the field, or his playing partner. The putt at the ninth was the final blow that has to have his head scrambled going to the back nine.

Spieth is still the favorite to win but the front nine messiness came totally unexpected. All his mental strength will be tested now at the start of this back nine, which features two par-5s over the final four holes. Those could be the critical birdie opportunities and swings at the 146th Open.

And if both Kuchar and Spieth come back a little more, this will no longer be a two-horse race. Haotong Li is sitting there in the clubhouse at 6-under following a round of 63, which, until a day ago, would have matched the all-time record for a low round at a major championship.

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