Shanghai, November 7

World No 2 Jordan Spieth fired the best round of the day, a flawless nine-under 63, to climb into contention at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai on Saturday.

The 22-year-old American had nine birdies and no bogeys to storm up the leaderboard from 27th to a share of fifth place, three shots behind leader Kevin Kisner. Weather delays due to rain and thunder in the morning meant two players of the last three-ball group finished in almost total darkness at Sheshan International Golf Club.

The third member of the group, Scotland’s Russell Knox exercised his right not to tee off on 18 in the gloom and will have to come back on Sunday morning to complete his third round. Overnight leader Kevin Kisner saw his lead whittled to one stroke after a 70 took him to 16-under par.

One shot behind are Knox, the 2013 winner here Dustin Johnson and China’s young Li Haotong who for the third day running showed he could compete with the cream of world golf by shooting a six-under 66.

Spieth, starting his third round 10 strokes behind Kisner, moved into contention by collecting eight birdies through 15 holes to move to 12-under par. He missed a 15-foot eagle putt at 18th for a 62, but still signed for a nine-under 63 and a 13-under total.

Meanwhile local 20-year-old hero Li was off to an electrifying start for the third day running, pouring in four straight birdies including putts of 20 and 25 feet at the first and fourth before a bogey at the fifth arrested his charge.

When Li holed another 20-footer to birdie the long 603-yard eighth the roars could be heard all over the course. Another long birdie putt at the 13th and a much shorter effort at the 15th took him to a share of second at 15-under.

Kisner had just 24 putts in his 66 on Friday, but little dropped on Saturday until he went the direct route and chipped in at 15. He followed with a birdie at the short par four 16th to grab the clubhouse lead.

Former world No 1 Rory McIlroy, hit by food poisoning earlier in the week, started the day level with Spieth but his 68 left the four-time major champion eight shots off the lead.