• Tournament of Champions

Three tied at 14-under in Tournament of Champions

Webb Simpson was caddied by Ted Scott, who also caddies Bubba Watson © Getty Images

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Webb Simpson might have pulled out of the Tournament of Champions to be with his caddie if he were not on an island in the middle of the Pacific.

Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital.

"Paul sent me a text this morning, [he] just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said on Sunday after doing just that.

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Simpson made four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine at Kapalua for a five-under 68, giving him a share of the lead with defending champion Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth going into the Monday's final round on the Plantation Course. On a glorious day of sun and surf, Simpson played with a heavy heart.

His caddie and friend, Tesori, was in a hospital with newborn son Isaiah in intensive care. Simpson said the child suffered a seizure shortly after he was born with indications of an infection in his brain. One of Tesori's best friends in the business is Ted Scott, the caddie for Bubba Watson, who is filling in this week as Simpson's caddie. Tesori tweeted that he tuned into the telecast at Kapalua in time to see his son's name on Scott's hat.

"I felt like we were out there playing for Isaiah," Simpson said. "Paul needs something to watch there in the hospital. It's been a long few days, so hopefully, we gave him something good to see on TV. But it was tough. I was thinking about him a lot out there."

Simpson was the first to reach 14-under-par, thanks to a terrific par save on the 17th and a long two-putt par on the 18th hole, a par 5 with a front hole location that made it difficult to get close to because the green and the grain move sharply away.

Spieth, the 20-year-old Texan who looks just as good as he did during a sensational rookie season, got back into the mix with a tough birdie on the par-three eighth and capped off a 69 with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th and a long two-putt for par on the 18th.

Spieth won the John Deere Classic last year. This is his first time with at least a share of the 54-hole lead.

"This is a new position for me," Spieth said. "I've never slept on a 54-hole lead. I'm excited about it and it's going to be a fun time tomorrow to get to play with Webb for the third time this week."

The most intimidating figure is Johnson, whose power is suited for the Plantation Course. Johnson also had a 69 and was disappointed at playing the par fives in three-under for the day. One of them was a tap-in eagle on the par-five ninth. But he had to settle for pars on the long holes on the back nine.

One shot hit the front of the green and rolled off the putting surface on the 15th and into a valley. On the 18th, his four iron came up short and left him a pitch that had to be perfect. It was a few inches from that. The pitch didn't have enough roll to glide with the grain and left him a 15-foot birdie chance that he missed.

"Other than that, I played pretty good," Johnson said.

Zach Johnson, who had a three-shot lead going into the third round, couldn't make anything and shot a 74. His only birdie was a two-putt on the par-five fifth hole. Still, he was only two shots behind at 12-under 207 heading into the Monday finish. Instead of building his lead, Johnson effectively gave more players in this winners-only field a chance.

Gary Woodland (67), PGA champion Jason Dufner (69), Brandt Snedeker (69) and Kevin Streelman, who had a 33 on the back nine to salvage a 70, were within three shots of the lead. Masters champion Adam Scott wasted a chance to join them.

Scott was at 11-under and in range of the 15th until he smothered a long iron into the hazard and had to scramble for a bogey. He missed a seven-foot birdie putt on the next hole, missed the green and took bogey on the 17th and closed with a birdie for a 69. He still was only four shots behind.

Simpson has made 12 of his 18 birdies this week on the back nine, and his hopes are to stay in the mix and work one more day of magic.

The most intriguing character in this mix is Spieth, who a year ago didn't have status on any tour in the world. A couple of good finishes on tour through sponsor exemptions helped secure his card. He won at the John Deere Classic, finished seventh in the FedEx Cup, played in the Presidents Cup team and came into the week at No. 22 in the world.

This figures to be a big test - a share of the lead, contending with the defending champion and a major champion.

Spieth figures he cleared a big hurdle on Sunday when he didn't lose patience over a few bad breaks. He thought back to last year, when he struggled in the third round. He wasted good birdie chances on the 15th and 16th and was starting to run hot.

"But I got to 17 tee box and thankfully, that view kind of calmed me down a little bit and I was able to snag a birdie there," he said.

Spieth figures to need more of those on Monday, as will everyone else who wants to open the year with a win and guarantee a return to Maui next year.

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This article originally appeared on ESPN.com

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