"That's just crap", Spieth said after his errant tee shot on the first hole Sunday. Spieth fired a third round 65 in ideal weather.
Finally, there was the matter of actually hitting the shot.
Now, after making his debut at The Open as an amateur in 1998, he could be just a few strokes away from lifting the Claret Jug.
How to watch The British Open 2017?
Kuchar, who finished second at 9 under, played well Sunday, even taking solo possession of the lead on the back nine.
Most of the players are already in the clubhouse or on their way home, and a lot of those are very happy about it.
Golf's oldest major championship has a 2017 victor: Jordan Spieth, an American.
Jordan Spieth as continued to play aggressive to post a 5-under-65 3rd round in the British Open Championship being held in Royal Birkdale GC, Lanashire, England.
Kuchar said missing out this time only strengthens his resolve to one day win a major.
Matt Kuchar was rock solid all day.
Brooks Koepka is another two shots back.
Grace shared fifth place with world number two Hideki Matsuyama, with defending champion Henrik Stenson, world number one Dustin Johnson, Rafael Cabrera Bello and Chan Kim on three under.
DAY 77: Finally, Buhari makes appearance, meets with APC stalwarts in London
Nigeria's president has been pictured in London for the first time since he left his homeland nearly 80 days ago. Buhari would only return to Nigeria "as soon as his doctors give the go-ahead", the presidency insisted.
A birdie on the ninth revived hopes of a title challenge, but the 2014 champion barely escaped a fairway bunker on the 10th on his way to a double-bogey six.
He only needs the USPGA title to join the five greats who have won all four - Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. I thought, 'I still have a chance to hole this, and put some pressure on him. His birdie putt, from no more than six feet, was forced through any break and right into the back of the cup.
A wayward tee shot on the 13th forced him to take a drop and play his third from an adjacent practice ground.
On the par-5 15th, Spieth drained a long, undulated eagle putt. McIlroy was at 4 under, three shots out of the lead.
"Is Jordan Spieth something else?"
Emotions rolling, Spieth followed with a 30-foot birdie at the 16th and was ahead by two.
In the storied history of the game, only five players have won all four of the modern-day majors and Spieth could easily beat McIlroy to become the sixth. "I've had a five-shot lead in a major and squandered it before". Past year at the British Open, American Phil Mickelson missed a putt for 62 by an inch.
"The more you do it, the more scenarios you've gone through, and so the more you're prepared for it and that helps", he said.
Grace said it was just a special day at Royal Birkdale, where the winds were calm and the scoring conditions flawless. He won by three shots - the same margin he started the day with - after a final round 1-under-69.
Branden Grace has made major championship history.
The 62 also broke the course record at Royal Birkdale, set by Jamie Mudd in the fourth round of the British Open in 1991. But this Sunday finish at The Open may top them all, and that's because he somehow pulled it out of his rear when he clearly didn't have his best stuff. Certainly a one-in-a-million shot, but who knows?
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