Lots of stories in Big D, but the biggest one happens Sunday

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Most eyes were on Jordan Spieth on Saturday as the teenager from Dallas zoomed up the leaderboard.

IRVING, Texas -- Was it really just a few days ago that furrowed brows and worry warts were breaking out at the TPC Four Seasons Resort? With no Tiger and no Phil playing at this week's HP Byron Nelson Championship, some of the locals became concerned that this venerable PGA TOUR stop might lack the necessary notables to produce sufficient interest and headlines.

But here's the thing -- there's always a story. Always.

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For three days, it has been 16-year-old amateur Jordan Spieth, who continues to defy all sorts of real-world logic by not only making the cut but actually moving up the leaderboard with a third-round 67. On Sunday, as we get down to the business of determing the winner, the story could again be Speith, as he's tied for seventh, just six strokes off the lead.

Or it could be Jason Day, the 54-hole leader who has battled injuries but finally is 18 holes away from fulfilling lofty expections. Having flown under the radar all week -- which he didn't mind at all -- Day knows the target now sits squarely on his back. And at 22 years old, he's not all that much older than Spieth.

"I'm going to be in the spotlight tomorrow," the Australian said, "and hopefully I can play my game and just be in control of my emotions and in control of where my ball goes. That would be nice."

Or it could be Blake Adams, one stroke off the lead, a 34-year-old TOUR rookie who himself has endured an unfair amount of health problems. All the pain he's suffered, all the rehabilitation he's endured -- that could all be forgiven if he comes up big Sunday. But he insists his perspective will remain grounded.

"If I play great tomorrow -- which I fully expect to -- fantastic," he said. "If I don't, I'll try again next week."

Or the story could be one of the other players who lurk near the top of the lead. Maybe one of the "old guys" -- 49-year-old Kenny Perry or the two 50-year-olds, Corey Pavin and Tom Pernice Jr.. Their experience should pay big dividends when the brutal Texas winds kick up Sunday afternoon. Or maybe Heath Slocum will be the story; last year's surprise winner of The Barclays has kicked it up a notch in recent weeks.

The point is, as Pernice noted on Saturday after shooting a 4-under 66 while playing second-fiddle to playing partner Speith, is that tournaments can be fun no matter who's in the field. The stories are out there. Some require a bit of research. Others just fall into your lap. But they're there.

"You don't always need Tiger or Phil to have a great event," he said.

Of course, it does help to have Spieth, who has been such a big story this week that tournament officials are giving kids 16 and under free admission for Sunday's final round. Imagine what that scene's going to be like, especially since he's paired with Pavin, this year's U.S. Ryder Cup captain. Anyone know whether a 16-year-old amateur can be a Captain's Pick?

"I think it's the greatest thing," Pernice said of Spieth. "The only sad thing is I wish Byron Nelson was alive to see it. What he's brought to the tournament this week is exciting. It proves to me and to the people here at the Salesmanship Club (which runs the event) and the people at HP that you don't always need the biggest and the best names to have an exciting and great week. ... He's going to bring thousands and thousands of people out here to see the event."

Ah, the crowds. Instead of being unnerved by the large galleries, Spieth is actually feeding off them. He knew it would be important to get the fans revved up early in Saturday's round, so he went out and holed a bunker shot on the first hole for a birdie. No surprise that a huge roar followed.

"I've never heard anything like it," the high school junior from Dallas said. "It was special."

So was the 38-foot birdie putt he rolled in on the par-4 12th, which he followed with a big fist pump -- "which I shouldn't be doing," he said, "because I don't know how to."

While Spieth hopes to pump up the crowd again early Sunday, he knows he'll also need to control his emotions. It's a difficult balancing act for any player at any age. For a 16-year-old who's never faced this kind of frenzy before ... well, he's surprised us all week, so why not one more day?

"No one expected me to make the cut," he said, "and I guess I have an outside chance (to win). If I get the right conditions out there, the wind starts to pick up and I start dropping bombs from all over the place, it could happen. But I'm stressing a lot on the start tomorrow.

"I need the crowd behind me to make a run like that."

One thing Spieth won't do as he prepares for the biggest round of his life is read all the press clippings. Oh, he may see a highlight or two, but his Saturday night plans included hanging out with his girlfriend and watching a movie, just like he did on Friday night. After all, that's the usual things that 16-year-olds do.

And then on Sunday, he'll concentrate on the task at hand. And nothing more. The time for reflection will come later.

"I just want to stay in the moment right now," he said. "... I don't want to get caught up in the story of 'The 16-year-old.'"

No worries, Jordan. We've already done that for you.