World No. 1 Jordan Spieth has set himself the target of shooting a six under par 65 over the final round in the defence of his Valspar Championship title.

After an indifferent start on the Copperhead course, Spieth has gotten better with each round in posting a second day 68 and now adding a third round 67 to move back into the red for a first time this week at two under par.

And after being six-over par through 19 holes early yesterday, the Texan is six under par for the ensuing 35 holes.

Spieth capped a bogey-free third day’s play in the $US 6.1m event in holing a monster curling putt for an eagle ‘3’ at the par five 14th hole.

“We came out today wanting to get 3 a side, 6-under so something like that tomorrow could be good enough,” he said.

“It’s never as low as you think it is, think it’s going to be at least 9 out of 10 times. So, especially on this golf course where you start getting 4, 5-footers, the leaders get 4, 5-footers on greens that are a little inconsistent, who knows what’s going to happen. I really like the position we’re in. Obviously the lead would be better but we got the momentum on our side.”

At the completion of this event, Spieth had two event remaining, and both in Texas, before the defence of his Masters title.

And after seemingly set for missing the halfway cut for a second occasion this year, Spieth’s been thrilled to regain the form that has won his two Major Championship titles, and marking his effort on day three an ‘A’.

Jordan Spieth awards himself an ‘A’ post his third round at the Valspar.

“I’d give it an A, definitely an A to be 7-under after that 1st Round knowing that the wind was still going to be up the last two days,” he said.

“If I had just capitalized on most of all the opportunities that were closer I would give it an A+, but we’re very pleased with where we are given we were looking at potentially flying home and now in a chance to win the event starting the round tomorrow.

“And if I remember right, it was a couple years ago maybe 2013 whenever Kevin Streelman, Boo Weekley came out early or before the leaders and posted something like 8, 9- under and it stood there for a long time and I don’t even think we need to do that tomorrow and we’re definitely capable of it. “