Global No. 1 Dustin Johnson Suits 54-Hollow Mark To Clutch Masters Lead | Golfing Information

Most sensible-ranked Dustin Johnson seized command of the Masters on Saturday, matching the 54-hole document at Augusta Nationwide to clutch a four-stroke lead seeking a 2d primary identify. Pulling clear of an elite box at Augusta Nationwide, the 36-year-old American, who grew up simplest an hour’s force from the path, fired a seven-under-par 65 to face on 16-under-par 200 after 3 rounds. “I have were given numerous self belief in the whole lot I am doing,” Johnson mentioned. “The next day to come I will have to head out and do the similar more or less factor.

“I have were given numerous of significant avid gamers round me. I will need to play a truly just right around if I need to placed on that inexperienced jacket.”

Johnson went a occupation primary easiest four-under within the first 4 holes, creating a tap-in eagle on the par-Five 2d, curling in a six-footer for birdie on the 1/3 and sinking a protracted birdie putt on the fourth.

He added tap-in birdies on the par-Four 7th, par-5 13th and par-5 15th to equivalent the 54-hole mark set in 2015 via Jordan Speith.

“It is truly tricky to learn those vegetables,” Johnson mentioned. “You get numerous putts that smash so much. We are studying them truly smartly. For sure happy with the striking via 3 rounds.”

Johnson is the primary participant to shoot 65 or higher two times in the similar Masters after a first-round 65.

– 4-way chase –

Im Sung-jae, a 22-year-old South Korean who may just transform the primary debut Masters winner since 1979, closed with a birdie to shoot 68 and proportion 2d on 204 with Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, every other Augusta newcomer, and Australia’s Cameron Smith.

“I performed my first apply around Monday. I felt in an instant the path fits my sport and I believed I might do a just right task,” Im mentioned via a translator.

“I truly really feel I can keep composed. My striking has been truly just right the previous 3 days and I can simply stay doing what I have been doing.”

Im may just transform simplest the second one Asian guy to win a significant after South Korean Yang Yong-eun on the 2009 PGA Championship.

Johnson, the 2016 US Open champion, is attempting to transform the primary top-ranked golfer to win the Masters since Tiger Woods in 2002.

Protecting champion Woods, who started 4 strokes off the tempo, battled via again ache to shoot 72 and stand on 211, answering bogeys on the par-Five 8th and par-4 11th with birdies on the par-3 12th and par-5 15th.

“Lengthy days like this, I will get slightly bit sore,” Woods mentioned. “I will stroll all day. The arduous phase is bending and twisting.”

Woods, a 15-time primary winner who turns 45 subsequent month, seeks a 6th inexperienced jacket and an 83rd occupation PGA Excursion victory to wreck the document he stocks with Sam Snead.

– McIlroy fades –

9 golfers shared the lead at one level as Augusta Nationwide’s infamous undulating vegetables dried and quickened.

Smith, who closed with an eagle and 3 birdies to clutch a proportion of the 36-hole lead, birdied 13, 14 and 15 to proportion 2d with Im and Ancer, who birdied 15 and 16 in a overdue fee.

South Africa’s 100th-ranked Dylan Frittelli shot a bogey-free 67 with birdies on all 4 par-Five holes to face 5th on 205.

“The striking is the large distinction,” he mentioned. “I believe lovely at ease in the market at the vegetables.”

Some other stroke adrift was once third-ranked American Justin Thomas, who settled for 71 after a ultimate bogey.

2nd-ranked Jon Rahm shared 7th on 207 with Colombia’s Sebastian Munoz and 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed.

Spaniard Rahm suffered a double-bogey crisis on the 8th, rallied with birdies on 14 and 15 however stumbled with a ultimate bogey.

5th-ranked Rory McIlroy, desiring just a inexperienced jacket to finish a occupation Grand Slam, shot 67 to face on 208, however sees little hope of swiping the fairway jacket.

Promoted

“Being a realist right here, I simply wish to cross out and shoot a just right one the following day and spot the place it places me,” McIlroy mentioned. “However I’ve 0 ideas about successful this golfing match presently.”

US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, who many feared would crush Augusta Nationwide together with his power-driving sport, examined damaging for Covid-19 Friday after feeling dizzy at the path. He shot 69 Saturday to face on 213.