Spieth, who shot a bogey-free 68 to improve to seven-under par for the tournament, was one of 13 players to complete their weather-disrupted third round.
But his group of Pablo Larrazabal and Soren Kjeldsen had to join the previous threeball (Eddie Pepperell, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Tyrrell Hatton) on the ninth tee of Abu Dhabi Golf Club, their 18th hole having started from the 10th – to make it a sprint to the finish line.
The 22-year-old American was one behind clubhouse leader, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (67), and three shots behind the leaders out on the golf course.
When play was suspended, there were five players tied on top at 10-under par – world number three Rory McIlroy (9 holes), Dutchman Joost Luiten (10 holes), world number six Rickie Fowler (11 holes), England’s Ian Poulter (13 holes) and South African Branden Grace (16 holes).
England’s Andy Sullivan, who was leading by two shots on the ninth tee, was trailing by one by the time he finished the hole, having lost his ball in the bushes on the right side of the fairway.
He made a triple bogey on the hole and was on nine-under par along with four others – world number five Henrik Stenson, 2012 champion Robert Rock, Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Belgian Thomas Pieters.
Early-morning fog for the second successive day delayed the start of play on Saturday, this time by two hours and 50 minutes.
Spieth was relishing the extra few hours he’d get in the morning on Sunday, but said that would not be a massive advantage.
“You know, not much. It just takes away from sitting around the clubhouse for hours. I can at least spend more time, maybe go to the gym in the morning,” he said.
“I can do a little more than I would have been able to do if we were up before five. But all in all, as far as my play, I don’t think it’s going to affect much.”
The cut was applied at one-under par 143 and 73 players made it to the weekend rounds.
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