After breaking the 36-hole record of 131 shots yesterday, the American set a new 54 hole record at Augusta of 16-under-par, after finishing the day with a two-under-par round of 70.

The American began the third round of the tournament 14-under and although his performance was not as spectacular as his previous two, Spieth will head into the final day knowing that the green jacket is his to lose.

However the 21-year-old’s double bogey on the seventeenth hole which saw him drop from 18 to 16-under for the tournament, is likely to give encouragement to his two closest rivals Justin Rose of England and Phil Mickelson of the United States, who will hope to take advantage of any nerves on the final day.

Both men have major titles to their credit and the pair enjoyed fruitful rounds on the course, with Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, racking up five birdies in his last six holes, to move into second place on the leaderboard on 12-under.

Mickelson is a shot further back after a round of 67, which included six birdies to move him into contention as he bids for a fourth US Masters title, having last won at August in 2010.

Spieth’s partner for the day and fellow American Charley Hoffman remains in touch, as he lies fourth on 10-under.

World number one Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and the United States’ Tiger Woods lie in joint fifth position, after heading into the clubhouse with four-under par rounds.

The duo, who are arguably the most recognisable faces in the sport, could prove to rue slow starts to the tournament, with McIlroy’s hopes of a career grand slam and Woods’ ambition for a fifteenth major looking faint prospects as they remain 10 shots adrift of Spieth.

However both players are likely to feel buoyed by their positive displays on the penultimate day, with Woods in particular appearing resurgent following his two month absence from competition.

Americans Kevin Na and Kevin Streelman joined McIlroy and Woods on six-under-par for the tournament.

The focus though will remain on Spieth as he lead the US Masters from start to finish and attempt to go one step further than last year, when he finished as joint runner-up to fellow American Bubba Watson.

Spieth and second placed Rose will be the last two to take to the Augusta course tomorrow and are set to begin the concluding round of the tournament at 2.50pm ET.